Visiting an art restoration lab with Roma Experience

A recent invitation from Roma Experience, a small local tour company, was an unusual one and one that I was very excited to receive. For someone like me who is not an art historian, but very interested in art and always interested in a backstory, art restoration is something I find utterly fascinating. I recently had the pleasure to go on Roma Experience’s Restoring Caravaggio tour. It’s a unique experience with a sneak peek into the workings of a private art restoration laboratory.

CARAVAGGIO AND CHURCHES

Rome has 900+ churches, the exact number is up for debate, and I’ve never been able to find definitive information on the precise number. In many of these churches, you’ll find artwork free to view by Italian masters. In particular and our focus on this was artwork by Baroque master, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (or simply, Caravaggio as he is known). His work can be found throughout various churches in Rome and we started the tour by visiting several of them including the Conversion of St. Paul and the Crucifixion of St. Peter at Basilica di Santa Maria del Popolo, and the Madonna di Loreto at Basilica di Sant’Agostino. Unfortunately, we missed out on the painting of St. Matthew & the Angel because there was a wedding going on at the church of San Luigi dei Francesi. Such is Rome! 

ROME’S BACK STREETS

As the guide lead us to the various churches and eventually to the art restoration studio, we made our way through Rome’s small and charming back streets. I never get tired of these views and always find something new and always photogenic. 

IN A HIDDEN COURTYARD

After making our way through the small, winding streets of Rome’s medieval center, we entered a door off the road and into an inner courtyard to the private restoration studio of Valeria Merlini and Daniela Storti. These two women are art historians and restorers who have a history of working on and completing important restoration projects including three Caravaggios as well as the Pontifical apartments. 

We received a lot of interesting information about the restoration process. For example, various modern technologies assist in the process including UV lamps which are used to check for hidden damage, overpainting or previous repairs. 

As I watched the hands-on, slow and methodical restoration process I found it to be utterly mesmerizing, and I can imagine how it must be an almost meditative experience for the restorers.  

This tour offers the public the opportunity to visit a prestigious restoration studio located just a stone’s throw from the Pantheon. It’s a unique opportunity and a different way to get up close and personal with works of art through the intricate craft and skill of conservation. 

A big thank you to Roma Experience who offered me this complimentary experience. NB: all opinions are always my own. I do have to be upfront here and admit that the rate for this tour would be higher than most of our own hostel guests would be willing to spend. I do think the experience is an interesting and unique one and worthwhile to do if your budget allows.