Vatican launches major restoration of Raphael Loggias frescoes

The Vatican Museums has initiated the most ambitious restoration ever of the Raphael Loggias, a 65-meter-long corridor in the Apostolic Palace featuring frescoes by Raphael and his workshop. Over 20 experts will use state-of-the-art technology, including fiber lasers, to clean and stabilize the 50 scenes from the Old and New Testaments, created between 1517 and 1519 for Pope Leo X de' Medici. New windows will be installed to create stable climatic conditions. The project, expected to take five years, follows pilot projects from 2019 to 2024. It is supported by $5.5 million from the Legacy of Raphael initiative, funded by a $14.3 million donation from the Stephen A. Schwarzman Foundation, and additional support from the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums. The loggias, divided into 13 bays on the second floor, are not part of the public exhibition route but can be visited on request. Previous conservation efforts using glue have accelerated deterioration. Restorers will first consolidate unstable paint, then clean with lasers, and retouch with distinguishable colors.