The project involves the restoration of the 15th-century triptych entitled "Coronation of the Virgin and Saints Peter and Paul," housed in the Regional Gallery of Sicily at Palazzo Abatellis in Palermo. The work, attributed to the so-called "Master of the Corleone Polyptych," is a fine example of late-medieval Sicilian painting. The triptych's central panel depicts the scene of the Coronation of the Virgin, flanked by Saints Peter and Paul. The side pilasters are embellished with figures of saints, the predella depicts a Pietà, while the cusps contain episodes from the Annunciation and the Trinity.
Originally from the Norman church of San Pietro la Bagnara, demolished in the 19th century, the painting remained in the museum's storage for a long time until it was identified as a priority for conservation. The work was in critical condition: there were gaps in the frames, signs of wood-boring, cracks, detachments of the gilding and painted surface, overpainting, and signs of previous, unsuitable restorations.
The restoration, made possible thanks to the Art Bonus grant and the support of private patrons, was designed with a dual objective: to ensure the structural stability of the wooden support and to restore the legibility of the depictions. The work was entrusted to specialists in the restoration of medieval panel paintings, under the scientific direction of the museum's management.
An initial partial restoration was carried out in the 1950s, but did not allow for the full restitution of the work. The current restoration, however, will bring back the original colors and return a forgotten masterpiece to the public, which will be re-displayed in Room VIII of Palazzo Abatellis, dedicated to medieval polyptychs.
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