VENICE.- In June 2022,
Save Venice launched a campaign for the church of Santa Maria e San Donato on Murano to fund the conservation of the 12th-century mosaic of the Madonna Orante on a field of gold as well as structural integrations of the central apse and treatment of the exterior walls. Over the last year this substantial work has taken place with the collaboration of conservators, architects, engineers, and officials from the Italian Ministry of Culture and Catholic Diocese of Venice. The project is nearly completed, and the public inauguration has been planned for Sunday, September 24, 2023. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to The Thompson Family Foundation for its major support of the project, and to Linda & William DeBene and the Associazione Triveneta Chiavi D’Oro for their contributions.
Nearly a century had passed since San Donato’s wall mosaics were last conserved, and their brilliance had become distorted by a thick layer of surface grime. The mosaics were threatened by substantial cracks that were visible from the front apex of the vault of the presbytery and continued down past the figure of the Madonna Orante. In addition, many tesserae had begun to loosen and detach from their supporting mortar.
While inspecting the structural integrity of the apse from the exterior, project director architect Paolo Tocchi discovered that the roof beams that had been added in the 1930s were resting directly on the dome of the presbytery, and this was likely the underlying cause of mosaic's damage. Save Venice immediately committed the additional funds needed for the roof restructuring to protect the precious mosaics from further harm. The exterior of the apse with its decorative brick and stonework was restored by the Pierobon firm, ensuring that this area of the church’s structure is watertight and provides adequate protection and support for the artistic treasures within.
The complex treatment of the precious 12th-century mosaics was led by conservator Giovanni Cucco. After careful examination, mosaic tesserae that had begun to detach were stabilized with injections of mortar, and any precarious pieces were meticulously cleaned and reattached in their original position. Sections of mosaic surrounding the large crack on the apex of the dome were carefully removed to allow for the repair of the underlying structure and were then cleaned and given fresh mortar before being re-attached in their original position. A final surface cleaning of the mosaics removed residual dirt and grime, restoring the vibrancy and depth of the colors and brilliance of the gold background.
The conservation of the presbytery’s adjacent frescoes of Four Evangelists and marble cornice in the central apse was completed through fieldwork of the IVBC restoration school students, with partial funding from the Veneto Region throughout the summer of 2022. These students also had the opportunity to observe master mosaic conservator Giovanni Cucco, gaining valuable knowledge from his expertise in the process.
Save Venice is seeking a $20,000 sponsor for its Autumn 2023–Spring 2024 Education Series. Your support will help fund lectures, tours, and other enriching programs to keep members connected to Venice year-round. Contact us to learn more about sponsor benefits and recognition.
Save Venice is the leading American non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the artistic heritage of Venice, Italy. Since 1971, Save Venice has funded the conservation of nearly 2,000 individual artworks.
In 2015, Save Venice established the Rosand Library & Study Center in Venice, creating a nexus for the research of Venetian art, history, and conservation. Save Venice also provides grants for fellowships, exhibitions, and publications to advance Venetian scholarship and knowledge of art conservation.
After the floods of November 2019–the second worst in Venice’s history–Save Venice created the “Immediate Response Fund” to ensure a sustained reserve for disaster relief and preventive conservation to protect Venice’s most vulnerable sites going forward.
