31-MT-2007_Turin, Royal Palace, P. De Maecht, Niobe insults the simulacrum of Latona (tape), inv. 5023

Facilitated description: 

 

Niobe insults the simulacrum of Latona is a tapestry, a large canvas work that hangs to decorate the walls. The tapestry represents a mythological scene in which Niobe insults the goddess Latona.
The tapestry is kept at the Royal Palace.
The La Venaria Reale Conservation and Restoration Centre restored the tapestry in 2007.
The restorers cleaned the tapestry with special vacuum cleaners.
They have removed the repairs made in the past.
They repaired the edges of the tapestry by inserting new wool threads where they were missing. They sewed the wool threads with a wider weave to make the restoration intervention recognizable.
They eventually lined the tapestry (mounted a canvas behind the tapestry to reinforce it) and put an adhesive strip on top to hang it.

 

 

 

 

Abstract of the intervention:

 

The restoration of the tapestry of the Royal Palace Niobe insults the simulacrum of Latona, inv. 5023, executed by the arazziere Philippe De Maecht on cardboard by Toussaint Dubreuil, was realized on the occasion of the inaugural exhibition of the Reggia di Venaria The Palace of Venaria and the Savoy. Art and magnificence and history of a European court (Reggia di Venaria, 12 October 2007 - 30 March 2008).

Restoration

The intervention began the macro-aspiration of the front and the back and the dismantling of some mendings. Subsequently, a new suction was performed, followed by a cleaning by immersion washing. A conservative recovery of the four selvages was then carried out: insertion of new wool warps where missing and weaving of the wefts with expanded weft wool yarn to allow the recognition and reversibility of the intervention. Finally, a new liner was made with linen cloth, stopped along the sides, and along the upper edge a velcro band was positioned to allow the exposure of the work. 

 

Bibliography

S.Ghisotti, Sheet 9.9-9.11, in The Palace of Venaria and the Savoy. Art and magnificence and history of a European court (catalogue), edited by E. Castelnuovo, Turin, Allemandi, pp. 170-172.