Preliminary Studies of the Apollo del Belvedere
Artist: after Leochares
Date: II century A.D.
Classification: Sculpture
Dimensions: 224 cm
Materials: White marble
Adopted By: The Illinois Chapter, The New York Chapter
Total Cost: € 105,000
Description
The Apollo statue, retrieved in 1489 in Roma on the Viminale Hill, was part of Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere's collection in his palace in Piazza SS. Apostoli. When he became pope and took Julius II (1503-1513) as his name, he had the Apollo transferred to the Vatican Belvedere. Here it was documented until at least 1508. Originally the god was supposed to hold the bow in his left hand, and his eyes followed the trajectory of his flying arrow.
Datatable within the middle of the II century AD, the marble statue is a replica of a bronze performed by the Athenian sculptor Leochares around 330 BC. The work, always one of the most admired among the ancient statues of Rome, owes its consecration to the pages of Johan Joachim Winckelmann (1717-1768). He considered it the highest form of art from the ancient and preserved works among us.
State of Preservation
Found missing part of its upper limbs, this masterpiece immediately had numerous restoration inventions throughout the past decades. The cloak that falls wide from the arm creates a strong unbalance towards the left and causes stress to the balance of the statue. Recent monitoring gives this problem particular attention.
The Belvedere Apollo, based on the monitoring in progress, has been slightly moving for some months. This movement signals the sensors and raises considerable concern. The sculpture tends to move its center of gravity forward, leaving us to suppose that we are getting closer and closer to a possible collapse of the sculpture. Therefore, with certainty, we must urgently secure it.
Restoration Procedures
Today, after more than 20 years since the last restoration - which, although restoring the work, compromised its balance - it is, therefore, necessary to intervene again on the sculpture to strengthen its static structure and protect its precious surfaces.
In recent years, there have been numerous studies regarding the static of the Apollo in its Octagonal Courtyard niche, which presents some lesions and small collapses.
Therefore, the restoration of the Apollo previously consisted of a static verification of the niche that suggested some other modifications to the display, with different unloading of the weight of the statue on its base (with new vertical anchors) and the latter on the floor.
Various diagnostic analyses, with the use of thermovision and ultrasound, allowed the identification of numerous criticalities. Especially in the area of the knees and other ankles.
For the restoration procedure to proceed - that includes a series of minor interventions also on the other works of the same cabinet - it will be necessary for the future to use an “American style” scaffolding that could combine the aesthetics and practicality since it could be an “on sight” work. In the same way, a small bridge crane will have to be foreseen and requires disassembly.
From this data, the importance and urgency of a new restoration of this masterpiece emerge, even if, for some time, this "miracle" of the sculpture will be off-limits to the general public, a necessary sacrifice so that Apollo can continue to defy eternity.
Detail
Artist: after Leochares
Date: II century A.D.
Dimensions: 224 cm
Materials: White marble
Department:
Greek and Roman Antiquitiesmuseum:
Pio Clementino MuseumLaboratories:
Scientific ResearchTotal Cost
€ 105,000
Preliminary Studies of the Apollo del Belvedere Final Restoration Report
The study phase for the restoration of the Apollo del Belvedere allowed the restorers to have a comprehensive view of the operations to undertake, a project in constant cooperation with the Scientific Research Laboratory. Based on the first results of the analysis, after carrying out graphic documentation reporting all stages of degradation and previous interventions in 2D with Tablet, we moved on to the operational phase, both on the base and on the sculpture.
To ensure documentation of the most compromised area of the piece, which is the right leg that supports and structurally unloads most of the weight, the restorer Andrea Felici created a cast made with the traditional plaster method.
Restorers performed cleaning tests with water, ethanol, and acetone and obtained the best result for removing the patina using water and adding about 20% ethanol. Investigations revealed the nature of the resin, namely polyester, and restorers conducted tests to find ways to lower such material since it will have to be removed from the overflowing parts on the original and reduced to make harmonious fillings.
Finally, to complete the various stages of investigation preparatory to restoration, restorers cleaned the surface, examining different areas differing in type and finish of the marble: the left leg, the torso, and the drapery.
The methodology with Agar Agar was adopted to clean a portion of the left foot and a portion of the base;After this study phase, restorers are finally ready to begin the complex restoration of the Apollo del Belvedere.
Preliminary Studies of the Apollo del Belvedere
Details
Adopted by: The Illinois Chapter, The New York Chapter
Artist: after Leochares
Date: II century A.D.
Classification: Sculpture
Materials: White marble
Dimensions: 224 cm
Museum: Pio Clementino Museum
Department: Greek and Roman Antiquities
Laboratory: Scientific Research
Description
The Apollo statue, retrieved in 1489 in Roma on the Viminale Hill, was part of Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere's collection in his palace in Piazza SS. Apostoli. When he became pope and took Julius II (1503-1513) as his name, he had the Apollo transferred to the Vatican Belvedere. Here it was documented until at least 1508. Originally the god was supposed to hold the bow in his left hand, and his eyes followed the trajectory of his flying arrow.
Datatable within the middle of the II century AD, the marble statue is a replica of a bronze performed by the Athenian sculptor Leochares around 330 BC. The work, always one of the most admired among the ancient statues of Rome, owes its consecration to the pages of Johan Joachim Winckelmann (1717-1768). He considered it the highest form of art from the ancient and preserved works among us.
State of Preservation
Found missing part of its upper limbs, this masterpiece immediately had numerous restoration inventions throughout the past decades. The cloak that falls wide from the arm creates a strong unbalance towards the left and causes stress to the balance of the statue. Recent monitoring gives this problem particular attention.
The Belvedere Apollo, based on the monitoring in progress, has been slightly moving for some months. This movement signals the sensors and raises considerable concern. The sculpture tends to move its center of gravity forward, leaving us to suppose that we are getting closer and closer to a possible collapse of the sculpture. Therefore, with certainty, we must urgently secure it.
Restoration Procedures
Today, after more than 20 years since the last restoration - which, although restoring the work, compromised its balance - it is, therefore, necessary to intervene again on the sculpture to strengthen its static structure and protect its precious surfaces.
In recent years, there have been numerous studies regarding the static of the Apollo in its Octagonal Courtyard niche, which presents some lesions and small collapses.
Therefore, the restoration of the Apollo previously consisted of a static verification of the niche that suggested some other modifications to the display, with different unloading of the weight of the statue on its base (with new vertical anchors) and the latter on the floor.
Various diagnostic analyses, with the use of thermovision and ultrasound, allowed the identification of numerous criticalities. Especially in the area of the knees and other ankles.
For the restoration procedure to proceed - that includes a series of minor interventions also on the other works of the same cabinet - it will be necessary for the future to use an “American style” scaffolding that could combine the aesthetics and practicality since it could be an “on sight” work. In the same way, a small bridge crane will have to be foreseen and requires disassembly.
From this data, the importance and urgency of a new restoration of this masterpiece emerge, even if, for some time, this "miracle" of the sculpture will be off-limits to the general public, a necessary sacrifice so that Apollo can continue to defy eternity.
Restorations Update: Preliminary Studies of the Apollo del Belvedere Final Restoration Report
The study phase for the restoration of the Apollo del Belvedere allowed the restorers to have a comprehensive view of the operations to undertake, a project in constant cooperation with the Scientific Research Laboratory. Based on the first results of the analysis, after carrying out graphic documentation reporting all stages of degradation and previous interventions in 2D with Tablet, we moved on to the operational phase, both on the base and on the sculpture.
To ensure documentation of the most compromised area of the piece, which is the right leg that supports and structurally unloads most of the weight, the restorer Andrea Felici created a cast made with the traditional plaster method.
Restorers performed cleaning tests with water, ethanol, and acetone and obtained the best result for removing the patina using water and adding about 20% ethanol. Investigations revealed the nature of the resin, namely polyester, and restorers conducted tests to find ways to lower such material since it will have to be removed from the overflowing parts on the original and reduced to make harmonious fillings.
Finally, to complete the various stages of investigation preparatory to restoration, restorers cleaned the surface, examining different areas differing in type and finish of the marble: the left leg, the torso, and the drapery.
The methodology with Agar Agar was adopted to clean a portion of the left foot and a portion of the base;After this study phase, restorers are finally ready to begin the complex restoration of the Apollo del Belvedere.
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