Vittoria Cimino's book on Vatican Museums conservation

Vittoria Cimino's book 'Come si conserva un grande museo. L’esperienza dei Musei Vaticani' (Allemandi, 2016) details the conservation practices of the Vatican Museums. Cimino has managed the Ufficio del Conservatore since 2008, overseeing environmental monitoring and maintenance with three collaborators and ten external restorers. In 2013-2014, new climate control, CO2 emission control, pollutant abatement, and LED lighting systems were installed in the Sistine Chapel, accompanied by an international conference. The book covers eight years of fieldwork, including the 2011 installation of the new Matisse room after Pierre Matisse's 1980 donation. Annual dusting and condition checks are performed, while weekly inspections adjust climate systems seasonally. Antonio Paolucci's preface notes over six million annual visitors across seven kilometers of galleries, with opening hours from 9 to 18 (7 to 22 including special visits), 800 staff (53 restorers, 11 curators). Comparable institutions include the Louvre and Metropolitan Museum. The museum's diverse collections require specific conservation methods. Loans are processed for Europe, US, and Far East. Paolucci's philosophy of maintenance over restoration, continued by director Barbara Jatta, is enabled by financial resources.