SPECIAL RESTORATIONS
Temple of St. Stephen by G. Vasari, Pozzo della Chiana (Arezzo).
Interior, tryptych by O. Porta. Lightning struck the altarpiece on January 25, 1972. The left panel was knocked off its hinges, fell to the ground and broke into many pieces. About 150 fragments were recovered, but 30% of the original material was irremediably lost.
The reconstruction of the support was particularly difficult and was carried out in collaboration with the wood restorer Roberto Saccuman (robertosaccuman@libero.it). The most up-to-date technologies were used in this phase: mechanical, such as high-precision routers; vacuum technique; new materials and chemical products, such as synthetic thermoplastic fillers. The fragments were recomposed and glued to a new synthetic support; all the materials used are easily and completely reversible.
