Restoration Photos

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Would you like to help protect our artistic treasure for another millennium?

Object: Restoration of the frescoes of the Basilica of St. John at the Latin Gate in Rome.

The current project will bring to completion the restoration of the fresco paintings of the Basilica that began in 2003.

The restoration process sought to clean and protect a cycle of original frescoes from the eleventh century A.D., as well as ancient roman carvings, columns, marbles and decorations, medieval tile pavement in the sanctuary and seventeenth century paintings in the sanctuary and side aisles.

Much has been done, but the current project involves what remains to be restored, which includes the eleventh century frescoes on the left side of the central nave, the seventeenth century decoration on the lower part of the same wall and the lower section of the rear wall.

The costs of restoration include:

1. Installation of scaffolding;

2. Fixing the present paint in order to protect what will be left in the process of cleaning;

3. Dry-cleaning the frescoes;

4. Second cleaning with special organic solvents and inorganic salts;

5. Removal of old paint patterns and plaster work from previous inadequate interventions;

6. Removal of paint hiding the seventeenth century decoration;

7. Protecting the pigments;

8. Plastering cracks in the walls and covering the exposed bricks with a special plaster material;

9. Strengthening of the adherence of the frescoes to the walls by injecting a special plaster material;

10. Reintegration of the damaged areas of faded colors and of bare plastered areas with water colors in order to restore to the frescoes a sense of unity in the pattern and picture.

The total amount needed is about 162.000,00 Euros.

Of course we are not asking a contribution for the total amount (That would be a dream, at best). We would instead be immensely grateful for whatever help you could offer us in putting the necessary money together.

This restoration is particularly important on the artistic level, as this is a unique cycle of well preserved eleventh century frescoes. But the restoration is also very important in the formation work of our religious congregation, as the income of this basilica (especially for the celebration of weddings, for which we have many many requests), supports our seminary, where we train from 20 to 25 young seminarians. The completion of the restoration is necessary in order for us to return to a normal schedule of pastoral work.

If you can help sponsor any part of the restoration project, please contact the rector of the basilica.

Thank You!

Fr. Pierluigi Giroli

Rector of the Basilica of St. John at the Latin Gate

Office: 06 77600032

Cell: 340 3544798

E-Mail: Pierluigi_Giroli@Hotmail.Com

Web Master: w_rogal@hotmail.com