Venzano Tomb, 1880
AFIMS is sponsoring the restoration of this magnificent sculpture, with work to begin in the spring of 2024.
This is Paolo Domenico Valle’s masterpiece, sculpted in 1880. In this memorial to Giuseppe Venzano a female figure, representing industry, writes of Venzano’s life and death on a black marble door. This is set in a granite doorway representing an Egyptian style tomb. A figure of a sorrowful youth kneels at the base, crying over the bitter loss. Overhead hovers an angel holding a garland of foliage.
The heavy layers of dirt form a black crust on the marble, holding in damaging moisture and putting the delicate surface of the fine carving at risk. The metal garland is damaged, and the fresco painting in the background is fading, flaking and peeling. The restoration work will be complex, due to the different materials and artistic techniques represented in this monument. A careful restoration will to preserve this wonderful and moving work of art.