Raphael's last paintings
unveiled: A discovery made during a Vatican Museums restoration
The Vatican Museums unveil the final paintings of the
Renaissance master Raphael Sanzio, which were discovered during the restoration
of the frescoes in the Vatican’s Hall of Constantine.
By Paolo Ondarza
The allegories of Justice (Latin: Iustitia) and
Friendship (Comitas) likely represent the last work of Raphael before
his death in 1520.
These two figures were painted in oil alongside the frescos
in the Hall of Constantine in the Vatican.
The exceptional discovery is the result of a careful
restoration begun in March 2015. Restoration work has so far been executed on
three of walls of the great Hall, which measures 18 by 12 meters with a height
of about 13 meters. The Hall of Constantine was destined by Pope Leo X (Medici)
for meetings with representatives and diplomats.
Team of experts
Restoration efforts have been carried out over the past 5
years by the Restoration Laboratory of the Vatican Museums with the support of
the Patrons of the Arts. Francesca Persegati leads the composed of experts
coordinated by Fabio Piacentini under the scientific direction of Guido
Cornini.
The paintings were meant to be unveiled on 20 April during
an international conference to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Raphael's
death.
Due to the coronavirus emergency, the event was cancelled.
The canvases which had covered the paintings were removed on
the morning of Wednesday, 13 May, in the presence of the director of the
Vatican Museums, Barbara Jatta, and about 20 other people, including
technicians and experts.
Justice and Friendship
The upcoming reopening of the Vatican Museums will soon
allow visitors to admire the beauty of the shapes and colors that characterize
the Hall of Constantine.
The two female figures brought to life by Raphael’s hand
stand out: Iustitia and Comitas.
The paintings are part of an iconographic cycle dedicated to
Constantine, and painted before Raphael’s sudden death at the age of 37. The
surrounding frescos were completed by the master’s students and collaborators,
most notably Giulio Romano and Giovan Francesco Penni.
Masterful technique
The peculiarity of the Justice and Friendship painting lies
in the technique employed: oil painting on bare wall.
Beneath the wall’s surface, numerous nails were discovered
which anchored a layer of rosin, or Greek pitch, to the wall. Raphael spread
the material on the wall while hot and then covered it with a thin layer of
white plaster, to prepare for the application of the paint.
Precise cleaning methods
The people carrying out the restorations in the Vatican
Museums used precise cleaning methods to allow the extraordinary colours and
Raphael’s unmistakable chromatic tone to clearly emerge.
Museum visitors will soon be able to appreciate all the
iridescent, transparent, and nuanced beauty created by the Italian Renaissance
master.
Continuing restoration
The restoration of the Hall of Constantine – which also
included the vault – will continue as of this summer with the fourth and final
wall, where the disciples of Raphael Sanzio frescoed “The Donation of Rome”.
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