50-SL-2021_Turin, Civic Museum of Ancient Art - Palazzo Madama, A. De Lonhy (attr.), 2 angels and predella of the altarpiece of the Collegiate Church of Saints Peter and Bear of Aosta, inv. 752/L, 1059/L

Facilitated description: 

 

The predella (rectangular tablet that decorates the lower part of an altar or a painting on board) and 2 angels are painted wood carvings.
The sculptures decorated the altar of the church of Saints Peter and Bear in Aosta.
Antoine De Lonhy created the sculptures in 1480-1485 together with his workshop. 
The sculptures are kept at the Civic Museum of Ancient Art in Turin (Palazzo Madama). 
The La Venaria Reale Conservation and Restoration Centre restored the sculptures in 2020 for an exhibition. 
Scientists at the Center did scientific analysis to study the ruined parts of the sculptures.
The restorers secured the sculptures before the exhibition.

 

 

 

Abstract of the intervention: 

Intervention

The intervention was carried out on the occasion of the exhibition The European Renaissance by Antoine de Lonhy (Susa, Museo Diocesano, 10 July - 10 October 2021; Turin, Palazzo Madama, 23 September 2021 – 9 January 2022).
The works are part of a project that has provided for a conservative intervention on the other works of the polyptych of the high altar of the Collegiate Church of Sant'Orso di Aosta (in particular of 3 other sculptures: 5 angels preserved at the Castle of Issogne and a Virgin preserved at the parish church of Antagnod). 
The intervention included scientific studies and a verification of the state of conservation in view of the safety of two angels and the predella of the altar of the Collegiate Church of Saints Peter and Bear in Aosta.
The comparison with the other sculptures and the diagnostic campaign allowed to advance the hypothesis of a direct intervention of De Lonhy in the realization of the pictorial treatment of the sculptures.

 

Bibliography

- S. Barberi, Sheet 28, in The European Renaissance by Antoine de Lonhy (catalogue), edited by S. Baiocco and V. Natale, Genoa, Sagep, 2021, pp. 304-307;
- V. M. Vallet, P. Buscaglia, P. Manchinu, The restoration of the Virgin of the Assumption belonging to the ancient altarpiece of the Collegiate Church of Saints Peter and Bear in Aosta, in ‘Bollettino Soprintendenza per i beni e le attività culturali della Regione Autonoma Valle d’Aosta’, 2022.