Palazzo Barberini – Conserving Canvas 2022 – Call for Application

Palazzo Barberini – Conserving Canvas 2022 – Call for Application

05 May 2022 - 23 May 2022

CONSERVING CANVAS 2022 – WATER-BASED ADHESIVES IN CANVAS PAINTINGS’ STRUCTURAL CONSERVATION
GALLERIE NAZIONALI DI ARTE ANTICA (ROME)

CALL FOR APPLICATION
WOKSHOPS JULY – SEPTEMBER 2022

As part of the Conserving Canvas program funded by The Getty Foundation, the Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica promote a practical workshop divided into three editions, each dedicated to the structural restoration of one of the large paintings on canvas in the Throne Room of Palazzo Barberini: the Battle of Constantine by Carlo Viva (Carluccio Napoletano), copy of the celebrated Vatican fresco by Giulio Romano commissioned by the Barberini in 1666 (oil on canvas, cm 295 x 565); The Wedding of Peleus and Thetis (oil on canvas, cm 315 x 715) and Bacchus and Ariadne (oil on canvas, cm 315 x 725) copies commissioned to the painter Giuseppe Belloni by cardinal Francesco Barberini between 1664 and 1673 to replace the originals by Giovan Francesco Romanelli, who left for England as a diplomatic gift from the Barberini family to King Charles II.

The three paintings are preserved in the Throne Room where the workshops will take place. Other activities will be held in the museum’s conservation laboratory, with a program of theoretical and practical activities regarding the techniques of structural consolidation and lining with water-based adhesives, with a particular focus on large-scale works. Here participants will produce validity test and then assess the adhesive and mechanical properties of different mixtures and application methodologies.

The workshops will be led by experts in the field coordinated by Chiara Merucci and Matteo Rossi Doria in collaboration with museum’s and C.B.C. restorers.

The project will therefore be an opportunity to reflect on the problems of restoration of works on large canvas that, starting from the great Italian tradition, aims to test an innovative path of review and scientific and methodological re-evaluation of structural reinforcement interventions with water-based adhesives, non-toxic, environmentally friendly, sustainable and reversible.

Workshops will be held on the following dates and will be open to nine restorers (three in each edition):

First Edition July 4 – 16, 2022
Second Edition July 25 – August 6, 2022
Third Edition September 5 – 17, 2022

Travels, accommodations and daily allowance for the nine selected participants will be covered by Gallerie Nazionali-Getty Foundation

Please submit your application specifying the edition in which you intend to participate to the following mail: gan-aar.conservingcanvas2022@beniculturali.it including:

Curriculum Vitae in PDF (with current address, email and phone number, complete personal info, knowledge of English/Italian language)
Cover letter in PDF (why are you interested, previous experiences in canvas paintings structural conservation, research and publications)

Application deadline: May 23, 2022

End of participants selection: May 30, 2022

DOWNLOAD FULL PROJECT

Funded by The Getty Foundation