Tiepolo's Monumental Paintings Return to View in Verolanuova

In Verolanuova, close to Brescia, two impressive paintings by Giambattista Tiepolo have just been restored and are now on show at the Basilica of San Lorenzo. These large canvases, each 10 meters tall and 5 meters wide, were originally created in 1740 for the prominent Gambara family. The restoration was spearheaded by Davide Dotti, backed by the Fondazione della Comunità Bresciana, with work done by studios in Brescia and Bergamo under the supervision of local heritage authorities. From February 25 to June 4, 2023, visitors can view "The Sacrifice of Melchizedek" and "The Fall of the Manna" from a nine-meter-high platform. This project, titled "Tiepolo a Verolanuova," supports Brescia’s status as the Italian Capital of Culture. The paintings have a complex restoration history, including past work by Ettore Modigliani and Mauro Pellicioli, and were stored during World War I in Palazzo Venezia, Rome. The latest restoration fixed issues like paint lifting and old varnish removal. Additionally, Mayor Stefano Dotti announced a new cultural initiative, "Tiepolo Scomposto," to further enrich Verolanuova's cultural scene.