A new artistic restoration has brought back the splendor of one of Francesco Guarino's works, thanks to the intervention of Friends of Naples. The Annunciation, a 17th-century painting housed in the Church of Santa Maria di Costantinopoli in Naples, has been the subject of a major restoration project.
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Restoration works and presentation
The restoration will be presented on Saturday, March 15 at 17.00:XNUMX p.m. in the same church on Via Santa Maria di Costantinopoli. During the event, which will be attended by Monsignor Michele Autuoro, a commemorative plaque will be unveiled and images documenting the restoration will be projected. Afterwards, a mass will be held in Hungarian followed by refreshments. The intervention was carried out under the supervision of the Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape of the Municipality of Naples and was financed thanks to the support of Vittorio Genna, Honorary Consul of Hungary for Campania, Calabria and Puglia, through the Art Bonus program. This restoration has made possible the rebirth of the painting, which had been the victim of incorrect attributions over time.
Historical and technical details
The Annunciation, dated 1654, illustrates the meeting between the Archangel Gabriel and the Virgin Mary, accompanied by celestial figures. A notable detail is the noble coat of arms at the bottom left, probably added in the XNUMXth century, the meaning of which is currently the subject of heraldic research. The restoration work focused on cleaning and re-lining the painting, eliminating later layers that had altered its reading. The iconography was also linked to other works by the master, such as the altar of the Collegiate Church of Solofra. A meticulous restoration made it possible to safeguard Guarino's characteristic chiaroscuro effects, with particular attention to the reintegration of micro-fractures caused by previous rolling.
Friends of Naples initiatives and projects
Friends of Naples has a long history of restoration and conservation of Neapolitan artistic heritage. Projects include interventions on frescoes in the Church of Saints Philip and James and other historic sites in the city. Currently, there is an active restoration project for the Compianto di Sant'Anna dei Lombardi, with the possibility of contributing through the “Adopt a Statue” initiative. For further details on the association and its activities, you can consult the website.
Article published on March 12, 2025 - 19pm
Video Chronicles
The article is very interesting, but I noticed that there are some grammatical errors. The restoration of the Annunciation seems to be a good thing, but I hope that people understand the importance of such historical works. Let's hope for a good result.