The representatives of Vatican Museums unveil a portrayal of St. Augustine to the pope
In a significant meeting held on August 2, a delegation from the Vatican Museums presented a restored painting to Pope Leo XIV. The event, which took place in a room adjacent to the Paul VI Hall, was attended by several key figures from the Vatican community.
Among those present were Barbara Jatta, the Director of the Vatican Museums and Cultural Heritage, and Giandomenico Spinola, the Artistic-Scientific Vice-Director of the Vatican Museums. Sister Raffaella Petrini, the President of the Governorate of the State of Vatican City, was also in attendance, along with Monsignor Terence Hogan, the coordinator of the Office for Relations with the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums.
The painting, a work by an anonymous Roman artist from the 18th century, depicts Saint Augustine and an angel. It is a free copy of a figure in Raphael Sanzio's fresco, The Disputation of the Holy Sacrament, completed in 1509 in the Stanza della Segnatura of the Vatican Palaces.
Laura Baldelli, the master restorer of the Laboratory of Painting and Wood Material Restoration, and Francesca Persegati, the former head of the same laboratory, oversaw the restoration of the painting. The delegation's presentation marked the culmination of their efforts to preserve and showcase this significant piece of art.
The original figure from Raphael's fresco is found in the Stanze di Raffaello in the Vatican. The relationship between the 18th-century painting and the Raphael masterpiece underscores the enduring influence of Raphael's Renaissance masterpiece on later artists. While Raphael’s fresco is a seminal High Renaissance work, the 18th-century piece adapts that classical figure into a standalone painting, demonstrating a continuity and reinterpretation of religious iconography across centuries within the Vatican context.
It is important to note that the painting presented to Pope Leo XIV is not attributed to Raphael. The delegation's presentation, however, serves as a testament to the ongoing commitment of the Vatican Museums to preserve, restore, and share the rich artistic heritage under their care.
The meeting concluded with the Pope receiving the restored painting, marking a significant moment in the history of the Vatican Museums and the continuation of their mission to preserve and promote the world's artistic treasures.
Barbara Jatta and Giandomenico Spinola, discussing the ongoing cultural-travel initiatives of the Vatican Museums, expressed their excitement for the potential of future travel collaborations that incorporate cultural experiences, such as the recent presentation of the restored painting depicting Saint Augustine and an angel.
The newly presented painting, with its roots in the Renaissance masterpiece by Raphael Sanzio, serves not only as a vivid illustration of the enduring influence of Raphael's work but also as a testament to the Vatican Museums' dedication to travel-based learning, seamlessly blending the past and present within a lifestyle of continuous cultural exploration.
