Final Restoration of the "Blinding of Elymas"

LABORATORIO RESTAURO ARAZZI E TESSUTI MUSEI VATICANI
                      Stato della Città del Vaticano 00120 e-mail restauroarazzi.mei@scv.va tel. 06 69864198

                     Final Restoration of the “Blinding of Elymas”

Blinding of Elymas (series of the Old
School from the Acts of the Apostles),
from cartoons of Raphael. Dated:
1515-1521
inv.43873
Flemish Manufacture, Brussels,
Workshop of Pieter van Aelst
Warp: wool;
Weave: wool, silk, golden silver
579 x 501 cm

        During the preliminary meeting that took place in September 2015, all the points that would
affect the intervention on the tapestry "Blinding of Elymas" No. inv. 43873 were outlined, which
were essential for the successful completion of the restoration.

        When they started the photographic campaign and the graphic documentation of the state
of the conservation, as well as chemical-physical investigations aimed at the product recognition of
the fibers, they defined the state of preservation, evaluated the degree of pollution, and identified
the original dyes.

                     Graphic base                                             Material Construction of the Graphic

LABORATORIO RESTAURO ARAZZI E TESSUTI MUSEI VATICANI
                        Stato della Città del Vaticano 00120 e-mail restauroarazzi.mei@scv.va tel. 06 69864198

       Afterward, the lining was removed to allow for the aspiration of inconsistent deposits on the
back of the work as well.

                                             Striped lining in the original parts of the tapestry

 With the collaboration of the Scientific Research Cabinet, the most effective methodology was
 studied to carry out the most correct cleaning of the entire artifact. Since it is composed of two
   halves, the upper half is the tapestry and the lower half in painted canvas (restoration work
                              carried out in the 1930s by Silvio Grossi).

       Upper part of the original tapestry                                  lower part of the painting (restored in year ‘30)

After the analysis, it was possible to establish the actual execution of the washing in water. At the
beginning, there were big doubts about it and there were thoughts about a hypothetical dry
cleaning.

We proceeded to carry out all those preparatory operations. We also washed and soaked the woven
part of the tapestry, and removed the old restoration work after performing stability tests on the
dyes of the original yarns.

LABORATORIO RESTAURO ARAZZI E TESSUTI MUSEI VATICANI
                     Stato della Città del Vaticano 00120 e-mail restauroarazzi.mei@scv.va tel. 06 69864198

                Preparations for the washing and the removal of the other old restoration interventions

                                                     Color stability tests

After they carried out the tests, which were negative, they could procced with the washing. The
tapestry was then rolled up for its painted half, which was later protected with polyethylene cloth.
Then, the tapestry part was immersed in the washing tub with a solution of water and saponin.

                                      Immersion in the aqueous solution, sponging

LABORATORIO RESTAURO ARAZZI E TESSUTI MUSEI VATICANI
                    Stato della Città del Vaticano 00120 e-mail restauroarazzi.mei@scv.va tel. 06 69864198

Later, before they could continue the restoration operation, the tapestry was mounted on a frame.

                                                  Mounted on the frame

 In the areas with the most gaps and missing wefts, large green/brown linen supports have been
              sewn, in accordance with the polychromy of the tapestry background.

                                            Positioning of the tinted supports

LABORATORIO RESTAURO ARAZZI E TESSUTI MUSEI VATICANI
                    Stato della Città del Vaticano 00120 e-mail restauroarazzi.mei@scv.va tel. 06 69864198

The other parts of the tapestry presented gaps or missing yarn. The smaller sections were supported
with linen fabrics dyed in the appropriate colors for those areas.

                                       Tinted supports of color for a specific area

      Alternate point restoration began in April 2017 and was completed in December 2020.

                      Before the restoration                                    After the restoration

                      Before the restoration                                    After the restoration

LABORATORIO RESTAURO ARAZZI E TESSUTI MUSEI VATICANI
                     Stato della Città del Vaticano 00120 e-mail restauroarazzi.mei@scv.va tel. 06 69864198

                       Before the restoration                                    After the restoration
As the last operations were carried out, the vertical selvedges were mounted. They were woven
from scratch and the painted part was consolidated with a needle in the gaps.

                      Before the restoration                                      After the restoration

Finally, the whole tapestry has been lined with light cotton fabric. The upper half has been fixed by
sewing with the lozenges technique. For the lower half, it has been fixed only with a central vertical
thread that was respectively performed on the seam of the two sheets of the tapestry.

                                            Cucitura della fodera di protezione

The restoration has been directed by Dr. Rodolfo, curator of the Tapestries and Fabrics department.
For the technical part, it has been followed by the responsiblilty of the Tapestries and Fabrics

LABORATORIO RESTAURO ARAZZI E TESSUTI MUSEI VATICANI
                    Stato della Città del Vaticano 00120 e-mail restauroarazzi.mei@scv.va tel. 06 69864198

Restoration Laboratory, Chiara Pavan. Various phases of the execution have been completed by the
restorers Laura Pace Morino, Pignataro Emanuela, Ceppetelli Viola, and Smolen Sister Maria.