Major restoration project on Donatello's horse underway

 PADUA --  A restoration project kicked off this month to dismantle, relocate and restore Donatello’s Erasmo da Narni, known as “Il Gattamelata” in front of the Pontifical Basilica of Saint Anthony. The oldest surviving equestrian statue to be cast in bronze since classical antiquity, Donatello’s Il Gattamelata is a tribute to the captain general of the Venetian army laid to rest in the Basilica in 1458. 

 Standing at 3.4 meters tall and 3.9 meters wide, the statue presented a major logistical challenge for organisers charged with carefully dismantling two tonnes of delicate bronze cast into 36 pieces. Restoration efforts were launched in spring 2023, supported by the Pontifical Delegation and Padua University’s CIBA (Interdepartmental Archaeological, Architectural and Art Historical, Cultural Assets, Research, Study and Conservation Center). 

 A diagnostic campaign led by restoration director and expert, Nicola Salvioli, revealed the extensive structural damage. Experts identified a condition known as “bronze disease”, a form of environmental corrosion in which copper alloys are rapidly broken down due to elemental exposure.  The base, composed of various materials, was described as being “in terrible condition”, with significant cracks and infiltration caused by centuries of exposure and earlier restoration efforts. 

 Spectators looked on in awe as a carefully planned operation brought down the massive structure in just 80 minutes. “Il Gattamelata” was then transported to the Civic Museum’s restoration laboratory to begin extensive conservation work. A major restoration project funded by American NGOs Friends of Florence and Save Venice, this work is estimated to cost around two million euros over a period of 12-18 months. This marks the third time the statue has been moved from its pedestal since its installation around 1457. The first was in November 1917, when “Il Gattamelata” was relocated to Palazzo Venezia and the second in October 1940 to the Abbey of Carceri d’Este, both times to protect the monument during the First and Second World Wars respectively. 

 This time, there is uncertainty over whether the monument will return to its home of nearly six centuries, or be relocated to a museum for preservation. Although restoration efforts include various protective coatings of varnish and wax, alongside regular maintenance, restoration director Salvioli has warned that exposing the statue to the elements again could compromise its preservation: “Personally, I would recommend not placing it outdoors again.”

 khg-dp