Rome, Italy 2000
The Madonna della Clemenza, dating from the late 7th to early 8th century AD, is among the earliest surviving depictions of the Virgin Mary. Believed to have been commissioned in Rome by Byzantine Pope John VII (705-707), the artwork features the Virgin with the Child, portrayed with the regal attributes of a Byzantine empress, seated on a throne adorned with a pearl-encrusted crown.
Units
1
Originally, this painting was likely intended for the Church of Santa Maria in Trastevere. However, its current installation dates back to 1585 when Cardinal Altemps commissioned Martino Longhi the Elder to design a finely decorated chapel. Here, the image, regarded as miraculous, was placed on the altar. Tradition holds that during a severe drought, the painting was paraded through the streets, after which a much-needed rain nourished the fields.
In a significant initiative led by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, the painting was repositioned in its historical setting with all necessary measures for its protection and display meticulously considered.
In partnership with the Rome’s Istituto Superiore per la Conservazione ed il Restauro (Institute for Conservation and Restoration) under Giuseppe Basile, Goppion engineered a display case tailored to the dimensions and specific needs of the painting. The case is minimal in depth to fit within the pre-existing wall cavity and is crafted with a streamlined design featuring a steel frame and ultra-clear laminated glass that can be opened rotationally. A sophisticated movement mechanism, integrated into the church’s wall structure, allows the case to be moved to the altar’s base for maintenance and monitoring.
Ensuring the integrity of the artwork, the case includes compression seals along all potential air ingress points. Climate control within the case is managed through a dual-system approach. A high-performance silica gel, preset to the desired humidity level, is monitored and adjusted via electronic sensors that automatically regenerate the gel as needed without manual intervention.
Additionally, the system includes a recirculation feature within an external device to maintain the internal atmosphere and also incorporates filters that adsorb gaseous pollutants, ensuring the long-term preservation and stability of the Madonna della Clemenza.
Gallery
