«...he flew with his hands and with his wit» Jacopo Sansovino, humble materials, a Venetian masterpiece

For the Caring for Art. Restorations on Display series, promoted by the Opificio delle Pietre Dure to showcase the work of the Institute’s eleven restoration departments with the exhibition of some works just restored before they are returned to their owners, from 30 July 2026 the Museo dell’OPD will display the Madonna and Child with two putti, known as the Madonna delle Muneghette, attributed to Jacopo Sansovino (1486–1570) and owned by I.P.A.V. – Istituzioni Pubbliche di Assistenza Veneziane. Rediscovered in the 1970s in the then Pensionato delle Muneghette, the sculpture is a rare example of the artist’s technical experimentation: made with layers of canvas, gesso and some parts in papier-mâché produced separately from molds and then joined by direct modelling, it was previously read as a ‘papier-mâché’ model for a sculpture to be executed in a more noble material, while more recent studies tend to interpret it as a finished work executed in an unusual technique, born from Sansovino’s experience in creating ephemeral apparatuses, more economical and therefore intended for patrons with limited financial resources. Arriving for restoration in very precarious condition, with serious structural problems, deformations and losses that had compromised its legibility, the work underwent an extensive intervention funded by the Venetian Heritage Foundation carried out by the Opificio delle Pietre Dure, which required the involvement and synergy of the laboratories of the “polychrome wooden sculptures” and “ceramic, plastic and glass materials” departments, supported by diagnostic investigations from the Institute’s scientific laboratory. The exhibition of a recently completed restoration allows appreciation of the results of an intervention that has returned expressive strength to the sculptural group while preserving traces of its difficult conservation history, thanks to careful cleaning and the reconstruction by means of scanning and 3D printing of missing elements. These reintegrated elements made it possible to recover the correct inclination of the work, now supported by an innovative internal support system. “Jacopo Tatti,” emphasizes Emanuela Daffra, Superintendent of the OPD, “offers us an interpretation at once refined and deeply human of the ancient theme of the Madonna and Child. Certainly, in imagining this young woman with a pensive face he had in mind the Virgin made by Donatello for the altar of the Santo in Padua, but here, while holding her child, she bends maternally to protect him and to look at the faithful. Therefore, to restore this movement, it was essential to replace the internal support and repair the missing parts of the figures, while not filling gaps that allow reading the particular execution technique.” The work will remain on display at the Opificio Museum until 5 April 2027. Where and when Caring for Art. Restorations on Display – Temporary exhibitions at the Museo dell’OPD “...she flew with her hands and with her ingenuity.” Jacopo Sansovino, poor materials, a Venetian masterpiece From 30 July to 5 April 2027 Museo dell’Opificio delle Pietre Dure Via degli Alfani 78 – Florence Opening hours: Monday–Saturday 8.15–14.00 Admission is included in the museum ticket (full €6.00, reduced €2.00) Press materials: Studio Esseci Comunicazione www.studioesseci.net OPD Caring for Art cycle: A project by: Emanuela Daffra Museum direction: Sandra Rossi, Riccardo Gennaioli Exhibitions: Lorenza Alcaro with Chiara Fornari and Claudia Napoli Communications: Carmela Battista with Maria Emilia Masci, Veruska Filipperi Restoration of the Madonna delle Muneghette by Jacopo Sansovino.