Live Restoration of Pollaiolo's Portrait at Poldi Pezzoli Museum

The Museo Poldi Pezzoli in Milan has initiated a live conservation intervention on Piero del Pollaiolo's 'Portrait of a Young Woman' (c. 1470), a masterpiece of the Italian Quattrocento. The restoration, which began in October 2024, involves advanced diagnostic imaging techniques including CT scans, conducted by a team from the University of Milan, IUSS-Pavia DeepTrace Technologies, and the Centro Conservazione e Restauro La Venaria Reale, coordinated by Professor Isabella Castiglioni, with support from Fondazione Bracco. Previous restorations were carried out by Luigi Cavenaghi (by 1881) and Mauro Pelliccioli (1951), the latter adding two crossbars that caused compression and cracking. The current intervention aims to address yellowed varnishes and cracks, particularly on the face, using minimally invasive methods. The painting, acquired by Gian Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli around 1870 as a work by Piero della Francesca, was later attributed to Pollaiolo in the early 20th century. It is believed to depict a Florentine noblewoman who married Giovanni II da Barbiano, Count of Cunio. The restoration is open to the public, with guided tours and workshops, emphasizing the intersection of art and science. Diana Bracco, president of Fondazione Bracco, noted the emotional impact of using cutting-edge diagnostic technology on a 15th-century work.