Restoration of the Female Statue by L. Vimercati at Villa Mia, Torno
Year: 2010
Place: Torno (CO)
A unique work of art, a technical challenge, and a story to rediscover. The female statue sculpted by L. Vimercati in 1880, housed at Villa Mia, has been restored to its former splendor through an intervention combining tradition and innovation
Made of high-quality white marble, the statue showed significant damage: loss of anatomical features, biodeterioration deposits, and microcracks due to humidity. Its original beauty was hidden, but not lost.
The restoration project combined artisanal skills with modern technology:
• 3D Laser Scanning and Digital Modeling: Allowed for precise recreation of the missing parts.
• Calcium Hydroxide Nanophases: Consolidated the marble, preserving its integrity.
• Reconstruction: Executed by a robotic arm using white marble to match the elegance and original proportions of the statue.
The intervention went beyond conservation to shed new light on the artwork. It is hypothesized that the statue represents Giovanna Ruspini, a symbol of salvation and spirituality. Every detail, from the 19th-century dress to the sculpted anchor, tells a story rich in meaning.
Thanks to this restoration, which employed an innovative approach, the statue has been returned to its rightful context. The intervention stands as a model of how art and technology can work together to protect and enhance works of immeasurable historical and artistic value.
