Blog

"A new solution for old retouching" features the Allegory of Inclination an oil-on-canvas painting produced by Artemisia Gentileschi (1615-1617) for the gallery ceiling at Casa Buonarroti, in Florence. "We decided to remove the brown overpaint on the figure's belly, elbows and knee because, after diagnostic testing, we determined that this brown retouching was applied after Il Volterrano covered Artemisia's nude allegorical figure," says head conservator Elizabeth Wicks, whil

Artemisia's Painting Undergoes Scanning Techniques and Analysis by the National Institute of Optics Dr. Raffella Fontana heads the team at INO team at the National Institute of Optics, in Florence: “We are making a virtual 3-D model,” she says of Artemisia Gentileschi's Allegory of Inclination at Casa Buonarroti. "We’ll be able to zoom into Artemisia’s pentimenti – where she changed her mind – and follow the contours of her craquelure." “This is micrometric analysis," Fontana

In this video, conservator Elizabeth Wicks begins the cleaning process for ‘Artemisia UpClose’ and the original colours of Artemisia’s Allegory of Inclination at the Casa Buonarroti Museum in Florence are revealed. Dr. Wicks removes the paper and canvas backing glued to the back of the stretcher, before turning her attention to the front of the painting. She removes smoke deposits, dust, old glue and varnish layers… and the viewer can enjoy the painter’s lapis lazuli skies.

Detective work continues on Artemisia's 'Allegory of Inclination' in Florence with microscopic work under raking light and more. “Through working photographs, diagnostic imaging and analysis, we will be able to determine the exact technique Artemisia used, correctly map the work’s condition, and monitor our treatment plan for the painting,” says the project’s conservator Elizabeth Wicks, who heads the team of restoration scientists, for 'Artemisia UpClose' at Casa Buonarroti

An Interview with Elena Baistrocchi General Director, Arte della Seta Lisio Foundation Romantic velvet, Fondazione Arte della Seta Lisio...

A New Book from The Florentine Press Eleonora di Toledo’s purchase of an Oltrarno home and the emergence of Florence’s artisan district. Cristina di Lorena’s creation of a Medici wonderland at Villa La Petraia. Vittoria della Rovere’s role in supporting women’s art at Poggio Imperiale. Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici’s stroke of legal genius which linked Florence to an eternal Renaissance. Elizabeth Browning’s perspective from the windows of Casa Guidi, where she called for freed

PHOTOGRAPHERS WANDA AND MARION WULZ. Safeguarding their legacy October 2023 marked the start of a collaborative project aimed at...

Exploring Villa La Quiete November 21, 2023 at 4 pm Hosted by curator Raffaele Niccoli Vallesi Admission free, in English To reserve,...

by Leslies Katz, Oct 25, 2023 Olga Makarova and Calliope Arts Archive In the late 17th century, an Italian aristocrat scandalized by a...

Exploring LA PETRAIA’S WOMEN November 28, 2023 (in Italian), 3pm, admission free Reservations are required, to reserve your place,...

By BBC Click, October 15, 2023 Casa Buonarroti in Florence, Italy, displays the art collections of the Buonarroti family, including the...

By Rebecca Shiffman In 1612, Michelangelo Buonarroti the Younger, a descendant of Michelangelo, began construction of the Casa...

A relative of Michelangelo tapped Baroque artist Il Volterrano to censor the original work. Sarah Cascone, October 21, 2023 More than 400...

By Selena Mattei, October 24, 2023 Hidden for centuries, Artemisia Gentileschi's original masterpiece, Allegory of Inclination, is now...

By Karen K. Ho Photo by Olga Makarova A new exhibit is showing the original version of Artemisia Gentileschi‘s painting Allegory of the...

Staff writer, October 24, 2023 Photo: Olga Makarova and Calliope Arts Archive Artemisia Gentileschi as she had not been seen for...

November 29 2023 at 6pm Lecture by Francesca Baldry (online and on site) British Institute of Florence, Wednesday Lecture Series....

Exploring Villa Cerreto Guidi October 24, 2023 at 10.30am (in Italian) Hosted by Villa La Petraia curator Giulia Coco Admission free...

October 30 to December 15, 2023 Gruppo Fotografico Il Cupolone Inauguration reservations for 6pm on October 30 Il Palmerino Cultural...

Artemisia Gentileschi’s Allegory of Inclination (1616) tributes the genius of Michelangelo, gives a nod to Galileo, and bears a striking resemblance to Artemisia herself. During its conservation at Casa Buonarroti, the canvas was removed from its ceiling heights, and placed at eye-level in the Florentine home-museum where Artemisia worked while five months pregnant, receiving a salary three times that of her male counterparts, and earning the esteem of her patron, Michelang