Paolo Veneziano's Santa Chiara Polyptych Unveiled After Four-Year Restoration

After over four years of restoration, Paolo Veneziano's Santa Chiara Polyptych (1350) is now on view at the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice with a new interactive touchscreen display. The restoration, funded by SAVE Venice with support from Dr. & Mrs. Randolph H. Guthrie, was directed by Valeria Poletto with technical direction by Maria Chiara Maida and Francesca Bartolomeoli. The work recovered the polyptych's rich color palette, gold surfaces (cleaned via laser), and iconographic readability. Research revealed preparatory sketches, color tests, and underdrawings by Veneziano. A new support structure was designed. The polyptych was originally created for the now-lost female monastery of Santa Chiara in Venice and moved to the Gallerie dell'Accademia in 1812, except for the central panel sent to the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan, which was reunited in 1950. The museum plans a study conference to share results with the scientific community.