A news That makes me very pleased . An Italian patron That for the sake of art gives a considerable sum for the recovery of a work of art beautiful Piero della Francesca . we hope that this initiative . As our “adopt a monument ” , may have a growing following .
‘The greatest picture in the world’: Italy relies on donor to restore Piero della Francesca’s The Resurrection, the masterpiece saved in wartime
A street in a small town in Italy bears the name of a British officer who risked court martial to save a Renaissance masterpiece from shelling in the Second World War. Yet, Italian art experts have become so worried about the state of the 15th-century fresco dubbed “the greatest picture in the world”, that they have embarked on a major restoration project. The work was only made possible with a hefty donation from a private citizen. Piero della Francesca’s The Resurrection, on display in Sansepolcro in north-east Tuscany, is widely hailed as one of the masterpieces of late 15th-century Italian art. Concerns have been raised that the work is flaking and discoloured, while cracks have become increasingly visible. More details of the work will be announced later this month. It is expected to take between one and three years. Yet the parlous state of the Italian economy has left arts budgets slashed and organisations unable to preserve their masterpieces, so the Government has increasingly turned to private sponsorship.
This includes the restoration work on Rome’s Colosseum, sponsored by Diego Della Valle, head of luxury leather goods group Tod’s. Italian businessman Aldo Osti, a former executive of Italian food company Buitoni near Sansepolcro, has stepped in with half of the €200,000 (£160,000) needed to save the painting but the work is being run by the state. Daniela Frullani, the mayor of Sansepolcro, said: “What can I say, thanks from the bottom of my heart to Mr Osti for sponsoring the restoration as a private citizen of the most important work in our town.” Piero was a native of Sansepolcro and has become particularly beloved by the British, who can see examples of his work in the National Gallery. He is believed to have painted The Resurrection in the 1460s, which shows Jesus rising from the tomb, carrying a banner with guards at his feet asleep.
HV Morton revealed in A Traveller in Italy in 1964 that officer Tony Clarke had saved the painting. After orders to shell Sansepolcro, where the Germans were stationed, he remembered an essay by Aldous Huxley which described the painting as “the greatest picture in the world”.
Mr Clarke refused to give the order to turn the artillery guns on the town, despite instructions from his commanding officer. Shortly afterwards, the Germans fled anyway. Sansepolcro still has a street bearing his name.
Alessandro Sicuro
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Opificio delle Pietre Dure => http://wp.me/p2kXuA-2RJ
What great news that has been a long time coming. I am quite pleased by the news and to learn that the donation came from an Italian patron of art earmarked specifically for the restoration of an important work of art the beautiful and impressive Resurrection by Piero della Francesca. I hope that the initiative to restore this and other works of art and sculpture by donations (no matter how small or large) continues to gain momentum allowing the restorative process to continue
I was unaware of the background that had transpired to save the masterpiece during WWII and the village where it was located. Needless to say I am very impressed and so appreciative that such a well loved and important piece of art was not lost. There is such scope of majesty and detail in The Resurrection (being an important event and time in church history) if the patron had not stepped up to spur on the restoration I shudder to think of what the results might have been. I am distressed to learn how much has been slashed from art budgets in recent years due to the Economy. thus leading to such private donations and sponsors. in order to preserve and protect all masterpieces. It is clear how valid the concerns have been about the cracking, discoloration and flaking have become increasingly visible thus necessitating the restoration. The process will take several years, and be carried out by specially trained professionals who will study the painting thoroughly and begin the painstaking to clean up the painting removing all grit and grime from the painting , repairing the cracks and matching the original paints and when finally complete. It will once again shine in all its brilliant glory.
I hope that when it goes back on display that where it shall be placed will be a climate controlled environment and constant monitoring so that no further discoloration and damage occurs. The painting is truly one of the greatest pictures in the world and is an accurate representation of Christ’s rising from the tomb that we know from church history and what is written in the bible (torah, Koran, etc.)
this is a beautifully researched, detailed and written article.