36-TE-2007_Venaria, Reggia, P. D. Olivero (attr.), The miracle of the Blessed Sacrament in the Piazza del Grano in Turin: the descent of the host, inv. RP 264/1 (property of the Piedmont region)

Facilitated description:

 

The painting the miracle of the Blessed Sacrament in the Piazza del Grano in Turin: The descent of the host is an extraordinary event that took place in Turin.
In the center the bishop puts back the host (piece of bread symbol of the divinity) that flies in the sky inside a chalice (cup).
Pietro Domenico Olivero painted the painting in 1753.
The painting is kept at the Reggia di Venaria.
The La Venaria Reale Conservation and Restoration Centre restored the painting in 2007 for the reopening of the Reggia di Venaria.
The restorers cleaned the painting from dust, yellowed paint layer and non-original colored parts.
They filled the missing color parts with watercolors and paints.
Eventually they painted the painting to protect it from the sun's rays and dust.

 

 

 

 

Abstract of the intervention:

 

The painting was entrusted by the Piedmont Region for the preparation of the Reggia di Venaria. The restoration was carried out on the occasion of the inaugural exhibition The Royal Palace of Venaria Reale and the Savoy. Art, magnificence and history of a European court  (Reggia di Venaria, 12 October 2007 - 30 March 2008).

Restoration

The intervention began with the aspiration of inconsistent deposits from the support. At the level of the pictorial film, the altered paint, subsequent interventions and coating with shellac have been selectively removed. The surface imitation grouting and the chromantic integration with watercolor were then carried out. Even the abrasions have been integrated in order to stitch the fields without closing them completely. Finally, a protective varnish was sprayed and the final color adjustments were made with varnish colors. 

Bibliography 

C. Arnaldi of Balme, Sheet 4.40, n The Royal Palace of Venaria Reale and the Savoy. Art, magnificence and history of a European court, edited by E. Castelnuovo (catalogue), Turin, Allemandi, 2007, p. 89.