Turin, reconstructed sunburst on the altar of the Chapel of the Shroud.

Four years after the reopening of the Chapel of the Shroud to the public and after the restoration of the altar that was completed in March 2021, the golden rays were also the subject of intervention thanks to the collaboration between the Musei Reali, the Teatro Regio di Torino and the Fondazione La Stampa-Specchio dei tempi and is part of the broader extensive restoration supported by the Ministry of Culture, the Compagnia di San Paolo Foundation and the Council for the Enhancement of the Artistic and Cultural Heritage of Turin, with technical sponsors Iren Spa and Performance in Lighting. The installation was made with the contribution of Impresa Salvatore Ronga Srl.

The large sunburst, the work of carvers Francesco Borello and Cesare Neurone between 1692 and 1694, was an integral part of the altar design created by Antonio Bertola starting in 1688. Completely destroyed in the 1997 fire, it can now be seen at the completion of the long and complex intervention aimed, since its first steps in the early 2000s, at a recomposition as faithful as possible to the original design of the Chapel of the Shroud.

The sunburst was reconstructed thanks to a project coordinated for the Royal Museums by Marina Feroggio, which began with the study of archival documents and addressed all the problems of fabrication, transportation and assembly. The work is 3.5 meters in diameter and weighs about 70 kilograms, and was recreated by adapting and simplifying the shape of its original design, using Samba wood and papier-mâché. Each element was fireproofed, treated with Bologna plaster, mission gilded with imitation gold leaf, patinated with walnut stain and finished with clear varnish to slow oxidation over time. An on-site modular artifact was designed for transport and assembly, with eight elements to be inserted between the two oval iron plates.

“The reconstruction project,” said Enrica Pagella, director of the Royal Museums, “was based on archival sources, adapting and reinterpreting the artifact to make it compatible with current needs. The sunburst restores to the top of the altar its scenic function as a perspective point, especially in the view from the nave of the cathedral. The result was possible thanks to a team effort involving diverse expertise from the Royal Museums, Teatro Regio, the Turin Superintendency and the business world, who worked in perfect harmony to achieve this important result.”

The intervention was also financed thanks to funds donated by citizens of Turin and collected by the La Stampa - Mirror of the Times Foundation in the aftermath of the 1997 fire.

“The generosity of the readers of La Stampa supports not only the many ongoing social solidarity projects, but is attentive to the symbols of the historical and civic identity of our city,” added Lodovico Passerin d’Entrèves, president of the Foundation."Mirror of the Times over the years has dedicated great efforts to support Turin and Piedmont. But also in emergency situations, such as the pandemic and, in recent months, in support of the Ukrainian population. A unique example, a pride for our city. Once again, citizens and companies have shown their closeness and attention to the weakest."

The sunburst is now presented again in a simplified form, to restore the original scenic impact, thanks to the collaboration with the Artistic Laboratories of the Teatro Regio of Turin directed by Claudia Boasso.

The restoration of the rays completed the work of restoring the Chapel of the Shroud, a symbolic monument of European Baroque, winner in 2019 of the prestigious European Heritage Awards-Europa Nostra for the Conservation category.

Turin, reconstructed sunburst on the altar of the Chapel of the Shroud.

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