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Expansion to the Plaster and Marble Restoration Laboratories at the Vatican Museums

Model for Antonio Canova’s Funerary Monument
Currently, marble and plaster statues are being restored in the same
laboratory at the Vatican museums, but cross-contamination of the
different dust particles has proven to be detrimental to the
restoration process.
The Vatican Museums hold thousands of statues ranging from Etruscan clay sculptures to Roman marbles and contemporary bronzes. Some of these statues are exhibited inside the museums; others can be seen in the Vatican Gardens and Courtyards. Many of these statues have been effectively restored in the Vatican laboratory dedicated to the restoration of statues. Marble, plaster and clay sculptures are currently restored in the same laboratory, but new restoration techniques require the separation of marble statues and plaster statues in order to avoid caustic dust and other cross-contaminants.

Restoration is important.The MN/ND chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums has taken on the financing of the construction of a new laboratory for the restoration of existing plasters and for the creation of new plaster casts of the famous works of art in the Vatican which can then be shipped throughout the world for study and enjoyment.

Restoration Cost: The estimated cost is projected at $ 175,000 dollars.