The Post SIP-C program at the Villa La Pietra was more than I would have ever dreamed of. I have been working towards a career in conservation since my SIP-C program during the summer between my freshman and sophomore years. My goal for participating in the Post SIP-C program was to learn more about the conservation of archaeological materials, as well as to understand the differences between American and Italian conservation practices.
The first leg of the program focused on paintings, working with Jean Dommermuth, Kyle Norris, and Elizabeth Torres; the second leg focused on objects, working with Jack Soultanian, Jennifer Kim, and Claire Misko. I was also fortunate to complete my program with Sinclair Strong. She was my adventure buddy from the moment we met at the airport, and I could not have asked for a better internship partner.
On the first day with the painting cohort, we conducted visual research on the paints. We worked on two paintings, The Lady in Red and The Lady in Blue. I worked with Kyle on the Lady in Red painting. The first step was to note any signs of damage. There was paint loss scattered around the surface, ranging in size. We also tested the painting using ultraviolet and infrared lights, which indicated that it had been retouched at some point.
My job was to date the painting and attempt to identify the painter. Initially, it was dated between the 17th and 18th centuries. The only way to date the painting was through the lady’s clothing, which was perfect for me because I am fascinated with fashion history. I spent days researching her silhouette and the mask in her hand. Based on the clothing material, the silhouette, the mask in her hand, the woman’s hairstyle, and her makeup, I was able to narrow down the painting’s date to between the 1680s and 1700s. I mostly narrowed it down because all these elements were too late for the Tudor style, but too early for the Rococo style. There was no evidence to definitively identify the painter. Francesca Baldry, the collection manager of the Villa, gave us a tour of the Villa, explaining the attitude behind treatment and displaying items. The Villa was initially owned by the Actons, who collected artwork during their time living there. Therefore, when treating items, the Villa wants them to appear in the same condition as they did when the family lived there. We also visited the 1920s exhibit, curated by Baldry, which featured pictures of the Actons, mannequin heads with flapper hats, and a gramophone with records.
Francesca also took all of us to Villa Bardini, where we toured Caravaggio and the 20th Century: Roberto Longhi, Anna Banti. It was my first time hearing the name Caravaggio and connecting him to his paintings, but the mastery and details within his paintings were exquisite. Additionally, the story of Roberto Longhi and Anna Banti was so enthralling. They were a couple whose connections with artists and writers transformed 20th-century Italian culture, which the exhibition showed through pictures, writings, and paintings.
While our primary focus was conservation, Sinclair and I also took time to explore the city and other parts of Italy. We took a walking tour around the city center and visited the central market. We visited the Uffizi one afternoon. Neither of us realized that the Birth of Venus was displayed there or that there were several floors of artwork on display. Despite walking around the top floor for three hours, Sinclair and I were running through the rest of the floors, trying to see all the artwork before it closed. We went to the Galleria dell ’Accademia, where we saw Michelangelo’s David. I would recommend going to the Galleria dell ’Accademia before the Uffizi; the Uffizi has more artwork. We walked to the Relais Piazza Signoria and saw the Neptune statue. Finally, I took one for the team and climbed Giotto’s Bell Tower. Four hundred sixty-three steps and ninety-two meters later, I got a beautiful view of Florence with the bell ringing mixing with the sound of the crowds below. While it was worth it, I will not attempt the climb again.
We also took a train to Rome on Sunday. We visited Vatican City, which was a personal pride because it was the Jubilee year for Catholics worldwide, where we embarked on pilgrimages and celebrated the 2,025th anniversary of Christ’s birth. Since it was the last Sunday of the month, we were able to tour the Vatican Church, which would normally be closed on that day, and view the Sistine Chapel. For ten minutes, Sinclair and I broke our necks looking up, trying to note every detail. We then went to the other side of the city to see the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Based on our experience, we would recommend visiting Florence if you love art and shopping, but Rome if you’re more interested in history. While both cities have art and history, Florence has more noteworthy collections, and Rome has several archaeological sites.
Finally, the food. I miss Italian coffee culture; I had a coffee drink at least twice every day. Sinclair and I were surprised by how much truffle and pistachios were included in several different meals. Italian pasta and pizza live up to the hype. I learned that pasta is typically the first course, not a meal in itself. Even though the portions are smaller than a typical American portion, there are several courses, and I would leave each meal completely stuffed. Overall, I would rate it 9/10.
Our second leg of the internship centered on objects and sculptures. The two objects we worked on were Santo Anacoreta, a polychrome wood sculpture, and Daniele and Two Lions, a polychrome and gilded wood sculpture. We started with condition photos and worked with painting conservator Francesca Spagnoli on testing treatments. Claire and Jennifer made different adhesives, such as rabbit glue, for later testing. The next day, we went through the rooms, surveying wooden sculptures for future microscopy testing. Through the survey, Jack showed Sinclair and me the distinctions between wooden and polychrome sculptures, as well as the details that revealed the date of some sculptures. On our last day, we took the train to Lucca. We visited the Duomo di San Martino, where Francesca Spagnoli was conducting ongoing treatment on the Volto Santo, a significant religious relic for the city of Lucca. We discussed the painting layers, the statue’s history, and the overall success of her treatment. We also toured the Cathedral of San Martino, which houses the Volto Santo, noting sections within the church that had been restored or altered from the original.
There are not enough words to describe how amazing and meaningful this experience was for me. I worked at a villa in Italy, surrounded by the work of famous artists, alongside people who loved what they did and took great pleasure in sharing their knowledge. Italy does not owe me anything! If I could redo the experience, I would do it the same way. The experience was so incredible that for the first time since I decided to become a conservator, I have considered and researched getting my master’s in conservation abroad. I would recommend Post SIP-C to any student interested in conservation. I would also like to thank everyone who worked with Sinclair and me at the Villa, as well as everyone who made it possible for us to participate in the program.