The restored ‘Last Supper’ by Giorgio Vasari

Since November 4, 2016 it is possible to view “The Last Supper” by Giorgio Vasari, on display in a wing of the Museo dell’Opera di Santa Croce, the old refectory. The monumental painting (more than 8’ x 21’) divided onto five wooden panels, has a very fascinating history.   

It was painted in 1546 by Giorgio Vasari, the favourite artist of Granduke Cosimo I, for the convent ‘Le Murate’ along via Ghibellina in Florence. This was its original location until the beginning of ninenteenth century when it was then relocated to the convent of Santa Croce. Here in the Museo dell’Opera di Santa Croce the “Last Supper” hung and on November 4th 1966 the river Arno flouded the work remained there under water and mud for over 12 hours. The painting was deeply damaged in both its wooden substructure as well the paints used in the painting itself.  Since it was rescued in November of 1966 it has remained there for 50 years untouched in the restoration labs at the Opificio delle Pietre Dure. 

The restoration of Vasari’s “Last Supper” began in 2005 by a team of restorations experts at the Opificio delle Pietre Dure which is one of the two most important conservation schools in Italy.

The results? Brilliant!   Magnifcent!  Stunning!

The team, as we can read in the news of the Getty Foundation, developed a conservation solution based on the support system originally devised by Vasari himself, which has stabilized the painting while also allowing the wooden panels to move naturally with standard temperature and humidity fluctuations. They also were able to recover an unanticipated amount of the original painted surface, revealing the artist’s hand in surprising details.    

Compliments to all the restorers and many, many thanks to the Opera di Santa Croce, Prada Company, The Getty Foundation and the Italian Civil Protection Department for their generous support of this project.

This type of recovery effort whose results are so magnificent makes me proud to be Italian!! Bravi!!      

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