Video: Clue-seekers. Photography in Restoration

For restoration photographers the process is all about the skillful use of 'light and lens'. 'Accademia Women: Violante' continues with its second short video documenting the restoration of Violante Siriès Cerroti's Reading Madonna and other attributed works. Photographer Ottaviano Caruso visits the restoration studio in Florence, in support of the clue-seeking process. Conservators Marina Vincenti and Elizabeth Wicks will use his photography to formulate their diagnosis of the paintings' health, to help decide how to proceed together with their expert team in 2025.

Diagnostic Photography reveals the state of conservation of the paintings before restoration begins. It is used to reveal original materials and techniques, map damage and changes to the paintings, and pinpoint the degradation of substances applied during previous restorations. Photographic techniques included here are Visible light, Raking light, U.V. Fluorescence, Infra-red, and False-colour infrared.

This video documents ACCADEMIA WOMEN: VIOLANTE, a project sponsored by the AWA Legacy Fund in Florence. Project Partners: AADFI, Accademia delle Arti del Disegno and Syracuse University in Florence

Project Donors: Connie Clark, Pam Fortune, Nancy Galliher, Nancy Hunt, Donna Malin, Margie MacKinnon and Alice Vogler With special thanks to the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per la città metropolitana di Firenze e le province di Pistoia e Prato, the San Leolino Community at Certosa di Firenze

Media partners: Calliope Arts, Restoration Conversations and The Florentine.

With featured experts: conservators Marina Vincenti and Elizabeth Wicks and Ottaviano Caruso. Featured artist: Violante Siriès Cerroti Video by Olga Makarova