RESTORATION SUPPORTED BY THE OHIO CHAPTER ENTRANCE OF THE VATICAN MUSEUMS BY: PIETRO MELANDRI restoration projects / XIX Century and Contemporary art department ENTRANCE OF THE VATICAN MUSEUMS artist: pietro Melandri Date: 1932 Dimensions: ca 900 x 500 cm Material: travertine

Total Cost € 22.600,00

state oF preserVation: he construction of the entrance to the Vatican Museums dates the portal is completely in travertine and back to the beginning of the 1930’s, when together with the presents biological attacks by plants and microorganisms. Unfortunately, there are Tbirth of the state of Vatican city, there was the need for direct parts missing between the different blocks access to the Museums on the italian territory. and combined with the growth of plants, pope pius Xi nominated architect Giuseppe Momo, Director of the this has caused the travertine to have ar- public Works committee, to be put in charge of the completion of the eas where the stone is missing or degrad- ed. thus, it has lost its ability to function new entrance. Momo ideated the principal access on Viale Vaticano as a protection from water infiltration.o n and called pietro Melandri for the execution of the front door. the right part of the portal there are vis- ible oxidized metallic elements of small dimensions. restoration process inclUDes: - scientific research - Biocide treatment on the overall surface - Manual removal of organic residues - consistent removal of surface deposits and concretions - consolidation of cracks and gaps he construction of the entrance to the Vatican Museums dates back to the beginning - overall control of the balance of the of the 1930’s, when together with the birth of the State of Vatican City, there was the About the Project color for the general tone of the stone MelandrineedT was forfrom direct Faenza access and to at the that Museums time was on an the acknowledged Italian territory. Pope Pius XI nominated Artist: Pietro Melandri - photographic documentation master ofarchitect the arts of Giuseppe ceramics. Momo, However, Director his creativity of the Public and fantasy Works had Committee, to to be put in charge of Date: 1932 submit tothe the completion pontifical ofcommission the new entrance. and to the Momo’s traditional idea wasboundaries to have the principal access to the Dimensions: 900 x 500 cm of the church.Vatican in Museums spite of this, on the Viale final Vatican outcomeo and was he an called artwork upon of greatPietro Melandri for the execution Material: Travertine monumentality.of the front the door.Vatican Museums entrance, in fact, is framed by a cornice of travertine made with two different kinds of marble - the first smooth, the second with bosses. Melandri enriched the top of the State of Preservation: The doorway is portal withMelandri the coat was of arms from of pGaenzaius Xi; at andthe sidesat that of the emblemthe first there smooth, and the second with are the figures of Michelangelo and raphael, allegories of sculpture constructed completely in travertine and and painting;time wasthey anhold acknowledged in their hands masterthe tools of of the their arts,bosses. and theirMelandri enriched the top of the presents biological attacks by plants and positionsarts recall of theceramics. extraordinary However, nudes his of creativitythe sistine chapel.portal with the coat of arms of Pius XI; at microorganisms. Unfortunately, there are and fantasy had to submit to the pontifical the sides of the emblem there are the fig- parts missing between the different blocks commission and to the traditional boundar- ures of Michelangelo and Raphael, allego- and combined with the growth of plants, ies of the Church. In spite of this, the final ries of sculpture and painting. They hold in this has caused the travertine to have areas outcome was an artwork of great monu- their hands the tools of their arts and their where the stone is missing or degraded. Thus mentality. The Vatican Museums entrance, position recall the extraordinary Nudes of it has lost its ability to function as a protection in fact, is framed by a cornice of travertine the Sistine Chapel. from water infiltration. On the right side of the made with two different kinds of marble, Restoration Process Includes: doorway there are small but visible oxidized • Scientific Research metallic elements. • Biocide treatment on the overall surface • Manual removal of organic residues • Consistent removal of surface deposits and concretions Total cost for restoration $29,587.40 USD 88 89 • Consolidation of cracks and gaps • Overall control of the balance of the color for the general tone of the stone • Photographic documentation is a language that rcant transcend words. 2013