The Raphael Loggia, a renowned section of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, is undergoing a significant restoration for the first time in over five centuries. This corridor, attributed to the Renaissance master Raphael, is part of a $5.5 million project announced by the Vatican Museums. The plan involves cleaning and restoring the 65-meter-long and 4-meter-wide passageway, which is celebrated for its exemplary Renaissance art.
The corridor, situated on the second floor and offering a view over the San Damaso courtyard, is not accessible to the public. However, it is traversed by visitors attending audiences with the pope or the Secretariat of State. The decoration features biblical depictions from both the Old and New Testaments, alongside botanical motifs painted and rendered in stucco.
Pope Leo XIV frequently walks through this corridor when attending audiences, as his private apartments are located upstairs. Raphael originally designed the decoration between 1517 and 1519, making it one of his last works for Pope Leo X. Other notable works by Raphael in the Vatican include the restored Raphael Rooms and his famed tapestries.
The corridor is nestled deep within the Vatican and comprises 13 impressive arched bays noted for their figurative painting. These artworks inspired copies worldwide, including a complete replica at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. Initially exposed to the elements until 1813, the corridor suffered from weather-related damage. Even after windows were added, the artworks faced issues from trapped heat and humidity, necessitating meticulous restoration efforts.
Restorers are employing hand-held lasers for a ‘dry’ cleaning approach, avoiding water or chemical solvents due to the water-soluble nature of the paints. This restoration is coordinated with the World Monuments Fund and is funded by the Stephen A. Schwarzman Foundation, a New York-based philanthropy.
At a recent press conference, the foundation revealed a total contribution of over $14 million. This includes $5.5 million for the restoration, with additional funds allocated for digitizing images of the loggia, producing a documentary of the efforts, and establishing a training program for art restorers at a Swiss university. Additionally, the project includes plans to replace the loggia’s windows with special glass designed to filter out harmful sunlight.
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