My Italian Link - Issue #09 My Italian Link Issue #09 | Page 48

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E D U C AT I O N
OPIFICIO:
TURNING OLD TO GOLD
--
The house of sapient master restorers, Opificio delle Pietre Dure has upheld over a 400-year-old tradition of
preserving the artistic and architectural landscape of Italy. Now the Central Institute of the Ministry of Cultural
Heritage and Activities, L’Opificio also hosts a museum and organises tertiary education programmes.
www.opificiodellepietredure.it
MASTERS OF THE ELEMENTS
The restorative work by Opificio delle Pietre Dure (Workshop of
Semi-Precious Stones) in Florence ranges from tapestries and
bronze works to ancient weapons, paintings on canvas, wood,
paper and membrane materials, ceramics, plastics, tombstones,
mosaics and semi-precious stones, gold, wall paint, polychrome
wooden sculptures, and textiles.
Among the most influential projects by the institute are Ver-
rocchio’s The Incredulity of Saint Thomas from Orsanmichele,
Giotto’s Cross, Masaccio’s Trinity
in Santa Maria Novella, Donatello’s
Pulpit in the Dome of Prato, and
Raffaello’s Madonna of the Gold-
finch at the Uffizi.
The Opificio operates nationally
and has ongoing partnership pro-
grammes with several institutions
of the public and private sector.
cellence worldwide. The International Training Projects foster an
innovative approach to the industry and explore a range of tech-
niques for promotion and conservation. They include visual and
performing arts, protection from criminal action, jurisprudence
and data management. For more information on the Internatio-
nal Training Projects, visit itp.dger.beniculturali.it
ART ALIVE
Since the time of Ferdinando I de’ Medici, the Opificio has made
Italian artistic heritage shine. As
Amici dell’Opificio president Patri-
zia Pietrogrande puts it: "The kind
of emotion one feels when seeing a
piece of art return to its ancient
splendour is really special."
In hommage to the achievements
made through hundreds of years of
meticulous work by the staff of the
Opificio, a museum collects outs-
SHARING THE KNOWLEDGE
tanding samples of art and arti-
Keen to follow the steps of the wor-
facts. The halls of the museum il-
ld’s greatest restorers? The Opifi-
lustrate centuries of Florentine art
Marco Ciatti,
cio’s School of Tertiary Education
and the evolution of restoration
Superintendent Opificio delle Pietre Dure
and Studies passes on centuries
techniques. Ancient marbles and
of expertise to new generations. A
sculptures are among the most
five-year diploma at the institute is equivalent to a master’s
suggestive collections on display. A scientific laboratory corrobo-
degree in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage,
rates the attention paid to restoration projects through research
and moulds students in theoretical and practical expertise.
in the fields of biology, chemistry and physics. Climatology stu-
There are five separate majors accessible to Italian and Euro-
dies are also used for preventative conservation.
pean citizens.
At the Opificio delle Pietre Dure, no aspect of conservation and
Non-European students can access the Opificio through a range
restoration is overlooked. With an holistic approach to heritage,
of International Training Projects. These projects consist of
its preservation and promotion, the Opificio encourages active
courses and international partnerships aimed at promoting ex-
dialogue in the vibrant Italian art scene.
“ Any restoration on which
we are called to work, in Italy
or abroad, becomes an opportunity
to experiment, research and study. ”
~
BY NUMBERS
1588 - Ferdinando I founds L’Opificio
11 departments
5 formative courses
13 international theory courses
15 international seminars
65 participants in International Training Projects
14 international educational partnerships
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