Behind the scenes of the restoration of Astianatte

A new on-sight restoration at the Poldi Pezzoli Museum. The protagonist is Astianatte, an imposing sculptural group commissioned in 1836 by Rosa Trivulzio from Lorenzo Bartolini and completed in 1857 by Lorenzo Vela.

The work depicts the tragic moment when Pyrrhus, a Greek warrior, lifts Hector’s young son, ready to throw him from the walls of Troy, while Andromache, the boy’s mother, despairs at his feet. Originally located on the loggia overlooking Via Manzoni, the sculpture created a striking effect, simulating the imminent fall of the child in the eyes of passersby.

Today, this nineteenth-century masterpiece enters the workshop: a restoration that will be visible to the public on the museum terrace, offering a unique insight into the work of conservation and enhancement of heritage.

These are the stages of work:

• • Clean the work with atomized demineralized water and soft bristle brushes. Any stubborn deposits can be thinned with warm water and nylon brushes.
• • removal of the 2003 restoration’s protective
• • timely verification of all sealing and grouting also of the tightness of the large gusset present along the base and the square gusset along the modeling in the lumbo-sacral area
• • Extraction of copper sulfates from the basement (the stone appears to have absorbed metal)
• • Laying down a protective layer.

Alongside the restoration work, meetings with restorers and guided tours will engage the public in the preventive conservation of cultural heritage.

Thanks to Italia Nostra for its support.