2mc36-ML-2011_Venaria Reale, Royal Palace, Bust of Knight of the Annunciation, inv. R 6774 (property of Racconigi Castle)

Facilitated description: 

 

The bust of the Knight of the Annunciation is a marble sculpture (stone) made between 1650 and 1699. 
The sculpture is preserved at the Reggia di Venaria. 
The La Venaria Reale Conservation and Restoration Centre restored the sculpture in 2011 along with other works from the Racconigi Castle. 
The restoration students participated in the restoration. 
The sculpture had fractures and the matello support bar was ruined.
The restorers reinforced the fractures by inserting a layer of stucco (plaster and glue). 
They cleaned the sculpture of dust. 
They tried to make the pin (nail) of the nose less visible.
In the end they put a product to protect the sculpture from the sun's rays and dust. 

 

 

 

 

Abstract of the intervention: 

 

Restoration

The bust has been restored together with a series of paintings and 2 marble fragments depicting Savoy coats of arms from the Castle of Racconigi. The project was carried out as part of an educational project involving students in the fourth year of the degree course in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage (sector PFP/1 stone and stone products, decorated surfaces of architecture). The torso was in a poor state of preservation due to two fractures (along the vertical axis and in the support point with the base) and due to the oxidation of the pivot bracket. Structural rehabilitation and consolidation measures have therefore been envisaged, aimed at resolving cracks and problems related to metal elements. In addition, the following operations were carried out: cleaning from deposits and stains of brown coloration, grouting of cracks and flakes, reduction of visual interference caused by the protruding metal pin of the nose, application of final protective.