Restoration of Veii's Latona statue begins at Museo Nazionale Etrusco

The Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia in Rome has launched a restoration of the Latona of Veii, a polychrome terracotta statue dating to 510-500 BCE from the Portonaccio sanctuary temple roof. The last restoration was over 60 years ago, when the statue was reassembled from dozens of fragments. Now in a lacunose state, it requires reintegration of drapery, shoulders, and neck, with repositioning of the face and nape through localized remodeling. The project is funded by Carbonetti e Associati Studio Legale and executed by restorer Sante Guido, who previously worked on the Apollo and Heracles statues from the same group. The restoration will take place in room 40 of the museum, allowing the public to observe all phases, including digital photography, diagnostic analysis of pigments and clay composition, X-rays, and 3D scans of the Veii sculptures (Apollo, Heracles, Hermes). The work began in May 2022, marking 106 years since the discovery of the Portonaccio sculptures in 1916. Museum director Valentino Nizzo emphasized the anniversary and the importance of community support. Studio legale founder Francesco Carbonetti stated the firm felt a duty to contribute to cultural heritage, having previously supported health and scientific initiatives.