The throne of the Royal Palace of Naples will be restored thanks to “Restituzioni”, a two-year program of restorations of works of art belonging to the Italian cultural heritage, promoted and curated by Intesa Sanpaolo. Since 1989, this project has identified, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, works in need of restoration throughout Italy, supporting interventions to recover assets that represent the variety of the Italian historical-artistic heritage both in chronological terms and in terms of materials and techniques.
Article Key Points
Start of Restoration Work
The restoration work will be entrusted to the Fondazione Centro per la Conservazione ed il Restauro dei Beni Culturali “La Venaria Reale” and will begin in mid-September. The throne will be transported to Turin on Thursday, September 12, where both the wooden part and the upholstery will be restored. The complex restoration, which will last almost a year, will begin with the creation of a diagnostic plan supported by radiographic and microscopic investigations. This will be followed by the disinfestation of the wooden part, the consolidation of the structure, the cleaning with material and chromatic integrations, and will conclude with the dismantling and treatment of the fabrics and trimmings.
Temporary Throne Replacement
During the restoration, the throne will be temporarily replaced by an 700th-century seat that belonged to the Bourbons. A monitor will be installed in the room to broadcast videos and clips documenting the restoration and ongoing activities. Once the restoration is complete, scheduled for late summer 2025, the throne will be exhibited in the temporary exhibition dedicated to the “Restitutions” project and will return to Naples in February 2026.
History and Characteristics of the Throne
The precious “armchair” of Neapolitan manufacture was made around the mid-nineteenth century in carved and gilded wood, with a crimson velvet covering and a metal braid with silk fringes. On the sides, there are two armrests with lion heads. After the unification of Italy, the Savoy coat of arms was added on the chest of the eagle placed at the top of the backrest. The throne is protected by a canopy in crimson velvet and silver braid, adorned with interwoven ribbons and rests on a finely decorated carpet.
Statements from the Protagonists
Mario Epifani, director of the Royal Palace of Naples, commented: “The restoration of the decorations and furnishings of the Royal Palace is an opportunity for us to deepen our knowledge of the palace and its history. In particular, the Throne Room is one of the most representative rooms of the palace, a crucial place for the transmission of symbols and political messages of the various dynasties that took turns on the throne of Naples."
Michael Coppola, General Manager of Gallerie d'Italia Intesa Sanpaolo, added: “Since 1989, thanks to Restituzioni, we have been working alongside Italian public institutions to protect and promote the national artistic heritage. With the conclusion of the twentieth edition, well over 2.000 works will have been brought back to life, including the sumptuous throne of the Royal Palace. With deep conviction, we are once again dedicating ourselves to the valorization of the artistic beauties of Naples.”
Sarah Abrams, Secretary General of the Conservation and Restoration Centre “La Venaria Reale”, concluded: “The restoration project is the result of a joint effort with Palazzo Reale of which we are very proud and which since 2021 has involved the analysis of the state of conservation and risks of the artefacts exhibited along the tour route. The restorers and diagnosticians of the Conservation and Restoration Centre have supported the reorganisation projects of the Palazzo in recent years and the analysis and intervention protocol already applied to similar artefacts will be reserved for the throne.” In conclusion, the restoration of the throne of the Royal Palace of Naples represents a significant step forward in the conservation of the Italian artistic heritage, which will continue to be enhanced thanks to the collaboration between public institutions and private sponsorship programs such as “Restituzioni”.
Article published on 11 September 2024 - 14:37
