Restoration of Bellini’s San Giobbe Altarpiece
The restoration of the Venetian Renaissance masterpiece will be undertaken in full view of museum visitors to reveal the complexity and delicacy of restoring the painting to its authentic detail
Madonna and Child Enthroned with Musician Angels and Saints Francis, John the Baptist, Job, Dominic, Sebastian, and Louis of Toulouse
Giovanni Bellini
~1478
FRONT
REAR
4.71m
2.92m
Wooden support
13 poplar planks, glued and fixed with wooden pins. Structure of upper panels compromised, affecting paint layer
Cracks: Caused by swelling and contraction of wood
LAYERS
1 Varnish
2 Precious pigments
3 White lead primer
4 Gesso and glue
5 Poplar wood
1
2
3
4
5
1797: Removed from San Giobbe church in Venice when Napoleon Bonaparte looted city
Scrape off dirt
Remove old varnish
Fix cracks in paint
Revivify colour
Source: Gallerie Accademia
Picture: Gallerie Accademia
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