Restoration News

Conservation Students Spend Summer Restoring the Sotoportego di Corte Nova

Following the successful restoration of the four votive paintings that once hung in the Sotoportego di Corte Nova in Castello, professors and conservation students from the Istituto Veneto per i Beni Culturali ( IVBC)  restoration school are now working to restore the wooden and sculptural elements of the outdoor underpass.

Much beloved by Venetians, this ornately decorated sotoportego serves as a votive chapel and is imbued with legends dating to the 1630 outbreak of the plague in Venice. Tradition states that the residents of the Corte Nova area of Castello were spared from the plague thanks to the protection of the sotoportego.

Both residents and visitors alike have long hoped that the sotoportego would be fixed, as it had fallen into a deheartening state of disrepair. The spirits of the neighborhood have been lifted now that restoration is finally underway, and many local residents have shown their appreciation by bringing refreshments and cookies to the restoration students to thank them for their work. This effort is the buzz of social media in Venice and Save Venice is very proud to make this possible.

Restoration is expected to take three months. Once the work is complete reproductions of the four votive paintings (which are now on permanent display in the church of San Francesco della Vigna) will be installed in the sotoportego.

The Sotoportego di Corte Nova Before and During Restoration

Special News

Save Venice Awarded San Francescano dell'Anno 2016 for Restoration of Sotoportego di Corte Nova

Matteo and Monica Carlotti, who generously supported the 2015 restoration of the four votive paintings from the Sotoportego, and the Istituto Veneto per i Beni Culturali restoration school also received the award.

On Monday, June 13, the awards were presented during a mass at the church of San Francesco della Vigna on occasion of the Festival of Saint Anthony.

Restoration of Jacopo Tintoretto's Wedding Feast at Cana Now Underway 

Members of the Save Venice Board of Directors visit the worksite in the sacristy of the Salute in May 2016. Photo by Matteo De Fina. 

The restoration of Jacopo Tintoretto's Wedding Feast at Cana (1561) is underway in the sacristy of the church of the Salute. The restoration of the monumental canvas will be completed on-site in the sacristy, where visitors to the church will be able to view the painting while it undergoes conservation treatment.

This summer conservators are performing scientific testing and analysis using xray, infrared, and ultraviolet photography. These images will allow them to gain further insight into the various problems plaguing the painting,  including several layers of darkened varnish, pigment alterations, and altered overpainting from previous restorations.

This restoration was made possible thanks to a generous gift from Dr. & Mrs. Randolph H. Guthrie. 

The Rosand Library & Study Center at Save Venice Celebrates First Anniversary

Mary E. Frank addresses guests at the open house

Mieke Van Molle studies materials on display in the library

The Rosand Library & Study Center at Save Venice celebrated its first anniversary with an open house and reception on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. Since opening its doors in June 2015, over 100 scholars and university students have used the collection for their research. Thanks to many events throughout the year including Research and Restoration Roundtables, book presentations, lectures, and receptions, the Rosand Library & Study Center has welcomed an international audience of hundreds of scholars, conservators, and art enthusiasts and has become a premier location in Venice for scholars to gather.

The Rosand Library & Study Center is open by appointment, Monday through Friday, by calling +39.041.528.5247 or email venice@savevenice.org.

Save Venice Supporters Enjoy Veronese & Vino in the Veneto 

Trip participants and Save Venice staff at the Hotel Villa Cipriani in Asolo

At the Villa Barbaro in Maser

At the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice

From May 21 to 26, 2016, an intimate group of Save Venice supporters enjoyed Veronese & Vino in the Veneto, an excursion led by Save Venice chairman and art historian Dr. Frederick Ilchman. The trip began in Venice and included stops in Verona, Montagnana, Vicenza, and Maser, and raised important funds for art preservation in Venice.

Dr. Frederick Ilchman and other experts including Prof. Allison Sherman, Prof. Giorgio Tagliaferro, Prof. Matteo Casini, Gallerie dell'Accademia Director Paola Marini, and  Prof. Bernard Aikema, provided insights on the great painter Paolo Veronese as guests viewed his masterpieces in churches and museums throughout Venice and the Veneto region.

Trip participants also enjoyed lavish meals in private palaces on the Grand Canal, historic villas in the Veneto, and award-winning restaurants with panoramic hilltop views. Each meal was enhanced with wine and food presentations by sommelier and Slow Food expert Tamara Andruszkiewicz.

Click here to view more photos. For more information about other upcoming Save Venice trips call 212.737.3141  or email newyork@savevenice.org.

Venice, the Jews and Europe, 1516-2016 

June 19 - November 13, 2016 

Palazzo Ducale, Venice  

The exhibition Venice, the Jews and Europe, 1516-2016, is now on view at the Palazzo Ducale in Venice through November 13, 2016, and is the highlight event of the Venice Ghetto 500 commemoration.

The exhibition will recount the story of the Ghetto's settlement, growth, architecture, society, trades, daily life, and the relationships between the Jewish minority and the city at large, within the context of its relationships with other Jewish settlements in Europe and the Mediterranean.

Save Venice is proud to the support this exhibition thanks to a grant from the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation.

Save the Dates 

October 7 - 10, 2016

• Private Glory of Venice tour with exhibition curator Angelica Daneo featuring 45 masterpieces of Venetian Renaissance art including rarely seen works by Giorgione and Titian

• Lecture by Save Venice Chairman Dr. Frederick Ilchman

• Visits to the Martin Museum Residence and Craig Ponzio private collections

• Tour of Clyfford Still Museum and Conservation Lab

Save the Dates  

June 25 - 28, 2017