People admire the newly restored 13th-century frescoes of the Gothic Hall at the Santi Quattro Coronati monastery during their official presentation in Rome, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2006. (Gregorio Borgia/Associated Press)
Posted on 12/11/2006 1:39:52 PM PST by SunkenCiv
A series of medieval frescoes painstakingly restored over nearly a decade was unveiled to the public in Rome Tuesday.
Visitors, including Italian Culture Minister Francesco Rutelli, were on hand to take a first glimpse at the 13th-century frescoes in the Santi Quattro Coronati monastery, which sits atop a hill in Rome.
The secluded area was formerly a closed community where the Augustinian nuns had maintained cloistered lives since the 16th century.
While the monastery is not usually open to the public, Rutelli said the area where the frescoes are located will be opened in the spring so everyone can enjoy them.
A team of six experts carried out the restoration project, which began in 1997 and was financed completely by the Cultural Heritage Ministry.
The gothic hall where the frescoes are located has been referred to as the "Sistine Chapel of the Middle Ages."
The frescoes' subjects range from the constellations, the seasons and the signs of the zodiac to images representing human virtues and vices, all portrayed in vibrant tones of red, blue, green and gold.
"The discovery of these incredible frescoes puts the entire history of medieval painting under a different perspective," Rutelli said Tuesday, referring to the lack of medieval art discovered in Rome dating from that period.
"This cycle of frescoes enables us to interpret Italian medieval painting in a whole new light."
(Excerpt) Read more at cbc.ca ...
People admire the newly restored 13th-century frescoes of the Gothic Hall at the Santi Quattro Coronati monastery during their official presentation in Rome, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2006. (Gregorio Borgia/Associated Press)
wife will want to drag me to see this when in Rome late Feb,if open
Leni
May I recommend a little known tour, under the Vatican and perhaps a glimpse of St. Peter's grave.
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/institutions_connected/uffscavi/documents/rc_ic_uffscavi_doc_gen-information_20040112_en.html
When we toured the Vatican Museum the Sistine Chapel is the last room. We went through so many spectacular rooms with great treasures, that the chapel was just another room. It was overwhelming. I suggest people space out the museum and gallary visits and get outside and walk the city.
I've heard that the tourist route into the Sistine is through a long darkened hallway, which increases the impact. Of course, it's widely regarded as the greatest work of art by a single artist. :')
We went through the entire museum and ended up at the chapel. I don't remember the immediate entrance.
BTW lived in Sacto and S Calif also
We went to the Vatican twice. On one trip we went in the evening and the basilica closed about 8 PM. We had walked the two miles from our hotel and were tired. The taxis were lined up at the time of closing. Strange thing. None of them had meters.
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