HIGH PRIORITY PROJECT

Two pontiffs owned this splendid Grand Gala Carriage: Leo XII, who initiated its realization from 1824 to 1826, and Gregory XVI, who brought it to completion. Their heraldic arms are respectively visible - the eagle and the two lappets of the tiara supported by a cherub. The precious gilded metal decoration is the work of Felice Eugeni, while the arrangement is by Gaetano Peroni, whose signature is on the rear of the carriage. It was only used for solemn occasions, such as the feast of the Annunciation (March 25), St. Philip Neri (May 26), the Nativity of the Virgin (Sept. 8), and St. Charles Borromeo (Nov. 4). It would also be used to take possession of the Lateran Basilica immediately following the coronation of the new Pontiff.

TOTAL COST: € 22.037,66  ($ 21,539.61)

• This restoration is a pilot project and work will only take place on the carriage door

• Experimentation of various products to draw up an intervention protocol that is specific to the characteristics of the work to determine an assessment of the time needed to carry out the total restoration of the gilding

• Cleaning and reintegration of the multiple types of gilding, using the ornamental elements as a reference

• Fixing the fragile gilding raised in several places by testing various kinds of adhesives

• A total restoration of the carriage will be on a later date and is not included in this initial phase