Tosio Martinengo Picture Gallery (BS)

Approved by the Environmental and Architectural Monuments Department of Brescia, the restoration project concerned the monumental façades of the picture gallery and inner courtyard, including all stone decorations of the palace and some decorated vaults in the Renaissance and Neoclassical rooms.

Cleaning of the Botticino marble artefacts was performed gradually, by assessing the degradation of each decorative element. The natural material of the artefacts was carefully analysed and protected, to restore the finish while at the same time recovering the original appearance of the decoration and preserving its history. The aim was to strike a balance between removing deposits and black crust and preserving the original patina that had piled up during the life of the artefact, which makes an integral part of its value.