The project involves the restoration of the precious canvas painting entitled "The Madonna del Carmine and Carmelite Saints," a work attributed to the 15th-century painter Tommaso De Vigilia, considered one of the first examples of oil-on-canvas painting in Sicily. The imposing work (approximately 2 x 2.50 m) is made from three pieces of linen (each approximately 80 cm), initially soaked in oil to allow the paint to adhere without preparation. The painting features a gilded effect around the figure of the Madonna, achieved with gold leaf applied with a mordant or a paste.
Over the centuries, the work has undergone serious alterations: in 1868, a significantly invasive restoration was carried out, completely covering the original painting with overpainting and a jute underlay, a rigid canvas that can easily be mistaken for a wooden support. The result was oxidation of the painted surface, with darkened colors, inferior gilding, and a decidedly misleading visual interpretation compared to the original state.
The restoration project involved: thorough cleaning of the surface to remove overpainting and oxidized varnish; velluming the painting with Japanese paper and appropriate adhesives; removal of the old canvas and application of more suitable modern materials; pictorial and tonal restoration of the deficiencies; final protection with calibrated varnishes; and restoration work on the frame as well. Particular attention was paid to the sacred faces of the Madonna and Child, which were subjected to diagnostic analysis before any further intervention to preserve the original details.
The completion of the work represents not only an aesthetic but also a historical and spiritual recovery, restoring the work's visual integrity, reviving the silent dialogue between sacred art and devotion, and returning a work of great cultural and artistic value to public enjoyment.
Contact the representatives for more information or to express your interest.
