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The reconstruction of Anne de la Pierre's chin

The missing piece

What does a sculptural make-over look like? Conservator Gabriella Tonini explains the process of re-creating the missing part of Anne de la Pierre's face. "By filling losses in the architectural elements, draperies, and other damaged features, restorers recovered the monument’s visual integrity. Particular attention was given to Anne de la Pierre’s high-relief portrait; the artist had depicted her aged mother with an unflinching realism using virtuoso carving techniques. The right side of the chin, destroyed during the Second World War, was modeled and reconstructed directly on the sculpture, by gauging the dimensions of the missing piece with the help of an ancient photograph showing the undamaged work. The addition was refinished and leveled to fit the rest of the face. A wax polish was subsequently applied to protect the work and to enhance the monument’s surface transparency, luminosity and subtle chromatic variety."

Texts taken from AWA's documentary: Félicie de Fauveau: a French Sculptress in Grand Tour Florence
(Artmedia Studios, 2012)