Uffizi halts plans to restore Leonardo’s Adoration of the Magi
We are happy to announce that Leonardo da Vinci’s Adoration of Magi will escape the the restorer’s knife and the restorer’s brush. It has to be regarded as a “”first.”” A letter to the Florentine authorities (see the other material on this website), sponsored by ArtWatch International and signed by 45 distinguished art historians from the United States, the UK, France, Germany, Japan and Italy, and bolstered by an on-line petition signed by hundreds, seems to have accomplished its goal. The unfinished work, painted on canvas and applied to a wood support, is being returned to its place in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.
Following the controversy aroused by the letter, the Superintendent of Art in Florence assigned the painting to a diagnostician who ultimately determined that the work does not require a drastic intervention, the likes of which had already been planned. We at ArtWatch regard this as a victory for the integrity of art, and a sign of greater sensibility on the part of the authorities towards greater transparency and a willingness to weigh the issues. Thanks to the all of ArtWatch members and supporters who participated in the effort.
Select the links below to view articles pertaining to the victory:
February 5, 2002
February 6, 2002
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Thanks to the many signers of the petition:
1. Laurie Adams, New York (City University of New York)
2. James Ackerman, Boston (Harvard University)
3. Wayne Andersen, Boston (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
4. Paul Barolsky, Charlottesville, VA (University of Virginia)
5. James Beck, New York (Columbia University)
6. Hans Belting, Karlsruhe (University of Karlsruhe)
7. Daniele Benati, Chieti (University of Chieti)
8. Mary Bergstein, Providence, RI (RISD)
9. James Bloede, Paris
10. Ferdinando Bologna, Rome (University of Rome)
11. Eve Borsook, Florence (Villa I Tatti, Harvard University)
12. Bruce Boucher, London (University of London)
13. Enrico Castelnuovo, Pisa (Scuola Normale)
14. Mary D. Edwards, New York (Pratt)
15. Massimo Ferretti, Bologna (University of Bologna)
16. Jacques Franck, Paris
17. Sir Ernst Gombrich, London (Warburg Institute)
18. Mina Gregori, Florence (University of Florence)
19. Charles Hope, London (Warburg Institute, University of London)
20. Andrew Ladis, Athens, GA (University of Georgia)
21. Gianclaudio Macchiarella, Venice (University)
22. Anna Maria Matteucci, Bologna (University of Bologna)
23. Gianlorenzo Mellini, Florence
24. Giorgio Muratore, Rome (University of Rome)
25. Alessandro Parronchi, Florence (University of Florence)
26. Carlo Pedretti, Los Angeles (University of California at Los Angeles)
27. Piero Pierotti, Pisa (University)
28. Jonathan B. Riess, Cincinnati (University of Cincinnati)
29. David Rosand, New York (Columbia University)
30. Elizabetta Saccomani, Padova (University)
31. Pietro Scarpellini, Perugia (University of Perugia)
32. Craig Hugh Smyth, Cresskill, NJ (Harvard University)
33. John Spike, Florence, Italy
34. Fiorella Sricchia Santoro, Naples (University of Naples)
35. Leo Steinberg, New York (University of Pennsylvania)
36. Dario Trento, Milan (Accademia di Brera)
37. A. Richard Turner, New York (NewYork University)
38. William Wallace, St. Louis ( Washington University)
39. Hellmut Wohl, Boston (Boston University)
40. Giovanna Valenzano, Padova (University)
41. Mark Zucker, Baton Rouge, LA (University of Louisiana)
Thanks to the many signers of the online petition:
1. Cory Jones
2. Andrew Reale
3. Rodger Running
4. Katherine Isard
5. yann schwermer
6. Lynn Catterson
7. Denise Budd
8. Douglas DPete
9. Sandy Fechillas
10. Diane Martz
11. Thom Slader
12. Herica Valladares
13. Chris Doody
14. Jessica Spooner
15. Jodi Axelrod
16. Geoff Lehman
17. chris nielsen
18. kristen spooner
19. Kendra Reade
20. Sandra Bradley
21. Stephen Bertonaschi
22. karen fung
23. Vincent Yanniello
24. Dennis O’Hara
25. Adam Cadieux
26. Solana Nolfo
27. Jessica Peterson
28. Christopher Reade
29. Brett Fraley
30. Cindy McDoanld
31. Matt King
32. Kristie Palermo
33. Karen Stager
34. John Stager
35. Archie Palmer
36. Lynne Palmer
37. Robyn Marquardt
38. Kenny Domke
39. Bruce Shive II
40. Yves Vermont
41. Lawrence Isard
42. tobias mostel
43. aileen winter
44. alfred milanese
45. Ed Budd
46. Lori Enquist-Schmidt
47. John Running
48. Francois X. Holl
49. Ada Korostyshevski
50. Kelly Keehan
51. Laurie Davis
52. Christine Vermont
53. Barbara Budd
54. Katina Rouis
55. Diane Dixson
56. Heather Welty
57. Nancy Culton
58. James Bloede
59. Jean-Max Toubeau
60. Dominic Dellavalle
61. Julie Earnshaw
62. Kurt Sundstrom
63. Joe Lung
64. James Brilmayer
65. Patricio Paez
66. Lillian White
67. Vincent Eisen
68. Peter Cook
69. Gregory Corsico
70. Dolores and Alfred Corsico
71. Albert Hartmann
72. Gary Kelderhouse
73. Alyssa Preston
74. Allison Ruggles
75. Trisha Kelderhouse Hartmann
76. Joseph Rivers
77. massimo dalmiglio
78. Keith Parker
79. Tristan R. Shek
80. Claudia Gutierrez
81. James Holland
82. Jesse Schaefer
83. Shirley Leyro
84. Polly Saltmarsh
85. Jane Singer
86. Sophie Sigorel
87. Grant Anderson
88. Jenny Chi
89. Jennifer Moser
90. Izabela Staszewska
91. Mary Ann Pinto
92. Pinto Amedeo
93. Dorothy Serrin
94. Richard Serrin
95. Michael Angel
96. Juan Martinez
97. Megan Byrne
98. Kingsley Owen
99. Eve Dutemple
100. charlotte diehl
101. doux sebastien
102. Jay Blums
103. James O’Connor
104. Paolo Silverio
105. Leslie Morgan
106. Sara Sniderhan Sniderhan
107. shaun downey
108. David Scott
109. Cindy MacMillan
110. Lynn Bertrand
111. Sanbine Berzina
112. Deborah Brent
113. John Lynch
114. Rosemary McHalyi
115. Marco Colangelo
116. Mary Stewart
117. Dianne Scott
118. XXXXXX
119. Mina Stauber
120. Kevin Ali
121. Greg Nordoff
122. Douglas Thompson
123. Pam Arseneau
124. Giovanni Buti
125. Lynne Barton
126. Mark Daniels
127. Roger Murray
128. Benjamin Ashfield
129. Rémy ARON
130. Heather Steinberg
131. Asgeir Hesby
132. Briley Rasmussen
133. Katherine Moore
134. Stephanie Dutrizac
135. Holly Dyer
136. Tina Walkaus
137. Albert Messina
138. Carmen Montlaro
139. J.Thomas Casey
140. Emily Cormack
141. Maria Athanasekou
142. Melanie Hanan
143. Elizabeth Manton
144. Victoria Hobday
145. Wendy Sinclair
146. Pierotti Piero
147. Brian Mendell
148. Maria Wong
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