Ferroni’s first tondo arrives in the restoration studio
The Art of Healing
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Seeking women artists who bent the rules
Violante Ferroni’s Saint John of God Heals Plague Victims was recently removed from the atrium of the ancient hospital of San Giovanni di Dio and transferred to the conservation studio for restoration by conservators Elizabeth Wicks and Marina Vincenti. It is the first of two ‘tondos’, scheduled for completion in December of 2020, which are darkened by centuries of dirt and marred by flaking paint, tears and canvas holes. The second oval Saint John of God gives bread to the poor is studio-bound in March 2020.The two large ovals were painted by Ferroni in the mid-1700s. As women did not generally receive public commissions until much later, Ferroni’s San Giovanni commission is an extremely prestigious one that attests to the solid reputation enjoyed by the artist during her lifetime. AWA seeks out artists who ‘bent the rules’ and these 8 x 11.5-feet paintings, though completely unknown to the world, represent an exception in history. At a time when most female artists were painting small scale devotional works or still-life pieces, Ferroni was painting large scale pieces of traditionally masculine subjects: full-length figures and historic scenes with spiritual undertones… that inspire the viewer to reflect upon the ‘art of healing’.
Violante Ferroni’s Saint John of God Heals Plague Victims was recently removed from the atrium of the ancient hospital of San Giovanni di Dio and transferred to the conservation studio for restoration by conservators Elizabeth Wicks and Marina Vincenti. It is the first of two ‘tondos’, scheduled for completion in December of 2020, which are darkened by centuries of dirt and marred by flaking paint, tears and canvas holes. The second oval Saint John of God gives bread to the poor is studio-bound in March 2020.The two large ovals were painted by Ferroni in the mid-1700s. As women did not generally receive public commissions until much later, Ferroni’s San Giovanni commission is an extremely prestigious one that attests to the solid reputation enjoyed by the artist during her lifetime. AWA seeks out artists who ‘bent the rules’ and these 8 x 11.5-feet paintings, though completely unknown to the world, represent an exception in history. At a time when most female artists were painting small scale devotional works or still-life pieces, Ferroni was painting large scale pieces of traditionally masculine subjects: full-length figures and historic scenes with spiritual undertones… that inspire the viewer to reflect upon the ‘art of healing’.
What’s the ‘story’?
Discovering Ferroni’s paintings in their context
The Mud Angels meet the Art Angels
Look who’s helping
Art up close
Ferroni’s project spotlights the importance of art in daily life
Who and what?
From diagnostics to video work
What’s in store for Violante’s works?
Here's a quick glimpse at the restoration process