For the first time, the painting by Plautilla Nelli “Madonna and Child with Saint Dominic, Saint Catherine, and Saint Agnes” (private collection) is exhibited to the public after being restored by advanced students of the Lorenzo de’ Medici Institute Aashika Jain, William Johnson, and Rylie Severino under the guidance of the departmental supervisor, the restorer and art historian Roberta Lapucci.

A Renaissance figure and one of the first recognized female artists in Florence, Plautilla Nelli (1524-1588) entered the convent in 1538 at the age of 14, becoming a Dominican nun at the now non-existent Santa Caterina da Siena convent on Via Larga (today Via Cavour). Within the convent walls, Nelli managed to conquer cultural spaces that were then forbidden to most women, thanks to her art. Heir to the school of San Marco and Fra’ Bartolomeo, she was also an entrepreneur avant la lettre, establishing her own workshop within the convent, which involved her fellow sisters in the creation of artworks. Thrice prioress of the convent and in relationships with noble and bourgeois Florentine families, she created an art workshop On the occasion of the five hundredth anniversary of the birth of Plautilla Nelli, the Lorenzo de’ Medici Institute pays homage to the Florentine artist through a diagnostic study and restoration project dedicated to her and with a thematic area set up in her honor within the exhibition “Nutrire il Futuro – Nurturing the Future” (May 11, 2024), at the Sala Brunelleschi of the Istituto degli Innocenti. composed of her fellow sisters, even being mentioned by Vasari in his “Lives”. Plautilla Nelli painted “so many pictures for the homes of Florentine gentlemen that it would be too long to talk about them all.”

An extremely important statement that inspired the research of the artist’s works by Jane Adams, co-founder of Caravaggio & Company and project supervisor of this restoration initiative for the Lorenzo de’ Medici Institute. In her words: “To sum up Nelli and her great achievements as a female artist I would like to quote Jane Fortune, whose mission and love for Nelli I share – ‘Once you get involved with Nelli, once she gets in your soul, she’s with you everyday.”

Carla Guarducci, the president and CEO of the Institute commented on the project with the following words: “I am pleased to promote an initiative that enhances the activity of the Renaissance painter, Plautilla Nelli. Little known to most, she is an artist who is important to remember. Having entered the convent at a very young age, she managed to create through art and the sharing of artistic knowledge a creative and therefore, in a sense, free space, in a world where this freedom was denied to most women.”

Rediscovering Plautilla – A Multidisciplinary Journey: As part of the series of initiatives promoted in honor of the 500th anniversary of Plautilla’s birth by the Lorenzo de’ Medici Institute, students from the Historical Painting course (ancient and traditional painting techniques), from the Etching course (etching techniques), and students from the advanced Jewelry Design course were inspired by the work and life of this artist to create a series of works dedicated to her, and are on display today.

Thanks to / Grazie a
RESTORATION PROJECT
Coordinator: Professor Roberta Lapucci
Project Supervisor: Jane Adams
Advanced Restoration Students: Aashika Jain, William Johnson, and Rylie Severino
The project is carried out in collaboration with Dr. Catherine Turrill-Lupi, Prof. Emeritus, California State University; Trisha Dalke, University of Amsterdam.

INTERDISCIPLINARY PROJECT
Printmaking Project: Coordinated by Professor Lucy Jochamowitz
Artworks by Etching Students: Amanda Nessel; Analucia Paez Munoz; Charlotte Allsbrook; Evelyn Benitez Suarez; Girjia Jhalani; Katherine Holland; Linn Roos; Nisa Acan
Historical Painting Project:Coordinated by Professor Gregory Burney
Artworks by Historical Painting Students: Analucia Paez Munoz; Audrey Price; Conor Glesner; Emma Oeberg;
Hailey Clements; Juliana Kish; Kathryn Mcanulty; Kayla Parsons; Marlee Lord; Mauryne Audige; Sofia Piliero; Sophia Quinn; Hannah Wogalter ; Alexandra Coscioni; Grace Handy
Jewelry Design Project: Coordinated by Professors Yoko Shimizu and Francesco Coda
Jewelry Students:Charlotte Allsbrook; Madeline Ambrosino; Lily Baxter; Joel Georgii; Maya Jacobs; Thu Luu; Eden MacMillan; Laura Valades; Paola Valdez;

On International Women’s Day, the Istituto Lorenzo de’ Medici is pleased to promote a project that brings new attention to the painter Plautilla Nelli. Within the walls of the convent of Santa Caterina da Siena in Florence, Nelli, created through her art new cultural spaces, conquering realms of freedom denied to most women.

A disciple of the artistic traditions of San Marco and Fra’ Bartolomeo, Plautilla Nelli (1524-1588)  was also a pioneering entrepreneur. She established her own workshop within the convent, involving her fellow sisters in the creation of works of art.

Thrice prioress of the convent, she established an art workshop with her fellow sisters, earning mention by Vasari in his ‘Lives.’

According to him, Plautilla Nelli, who was appreciated by many noble families, painted ‘so many artworks for the houses of Florentine gentlemen that it would be too lengthy to discuss them all.’ This profoundly significant statement served as inspiration for Jane Adams, co-founder of Caravaggio & Company and the project supervisor for the restoration initiative at the Istituto Lorenzo de’ Medici.

In Jane Adams’ words, summing up Nelli and her remarkable achievements as a female artist: ‘To quote Jane Fortune, whose mission and love for Nelli I share, once you get involved with Nelli, once she enters your soul, she’s with you every day.'”

This restoration initiative by the Istituto Lorenzo de’ Medici pays tribute to the Florentine Renaissance painter Plautilla Nelli,” stated Alessia Bettini, deputy mayor and cultural affairs councilor of the Municipality of Florence. “It contributes to rectifying artistic justice for an extraordinary figure on the occasion of the quincentenary of her birth, preserving the artistic heritage that binds us to the past and inspiring future generations. It is also a new opportunity to deepen our understanding of the contribution of women in Renaissance art.”

“I am pleased to inaugurate a project that values the activity of the Renaissance painter Plautilla Nelli,” comments Carla Guarducci, President and CEO of the Lorenzo de’ Medici Institute. “Little known to many, she is an artist that is important to remember, especially on Women’s Rights Day. Despite entering the convent at a young age, she was able to create, through art and the sharing of artistic knowledge, a creative and, in a sense, liberated space in a world where such freedom was denied to women.”

The project aims not only to restore Plautilla Nelli’s artwork but also to shed light on her contributions as a female artist during the Renaissance, providing a platform for a more profound understanding of the role of women in art history. Istituto Lorenzo de’ Medici’s dedication to this restoration project underscores its commitment to preserving cultural heritage and promoting inclusivity by acknowledging the achievements of women in the arts.

The San Salvatore di Ognissanti church is the site of three restoration projects and an upcoming benefit concert on October 22 to fund work that will uplift and enlighten the church’s extraordinary cultural heritage. Jane Adams and Roberta Lapucci, co-founders of Caravaggio & Contemporary, are behind the project’s development and outreach, in collaboration with Anita Evi Gonzalez. The restoration is being conducted by Roberta Lapucci under the direction of Maria Pia Zaccheddu (Superintendent for Architectural, Landscape, Historical and Artistic Heritage) and with Fra Giuseppe Caro.

British residents Christian and Florence Levett made a generous donation to cover the restoration of the terracotta sculpture that shows the meeting of saints Francis and Dominic embraced by an angel, which is situated in the Alcantara Chapel. They have also supported the new lighting system for the church.

The restoration is also significant, given that this year marks the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Dominic. Dating to the mid-16th century, one leg was heavily damaged and poorly plastered, meaning its surface had to be remodeled and retouched. The angel formerly had a red robe to represent the flame of divine love, but, as Lapucci explains, “chemical testing revealed that it had been repainted with a pink shirt and blue sleeves in the 18th century, making the red robe irretrievable given how fragmented the paintwork had become”. Work was also carried out on the external architecture, which entailed a trench being dug around the outside of the chapel to allow air to circulate and dry out the interior. The masonry and surface wood with imitation marble and stucco gilding were restored, as well as the fresco on the left wall of the chapel, with much of the restoration undertaken by Fra Giuseppe Caro himself. The Madonna Guadalupe was relocated to the side wall and a sculpture of The Tree of Life was donated by Anita Evi Gonzalez, which is on display alongside the work.

“Ognissanti is one of the oldest churches in Florence and is also the resting place of the muse for the Birth of Venus, one of the most famous paintings ever created,” remarks Christian Levett. “In historical terms then, the work is not only of deep interest, but also necessary for the city in general.”

Additionally, a project is hoped to be carried out by students from the University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley, on six large canvases in the Duchi d’Alba chapel. “The chapel will be turned into a restoration site,” Lapucci elaborates. “The group of paintings from the mid to late 17th century have likely not been cleaned for over 100 years, and so the students will perform that work here on site, as well as undertaking structural work (tears and rips are present in the canvas supports) so that these works will be even more luminous and beautiful.”

The benefit concert on October 22 will go towards funding the restoration of the oil on canvas, Saint Francis Receives the Stigmata. The proceedings will get underway at 6pm with a presentation of the restored terracotta sculpture (in Italian) before soprano Sophie Gallagher delights with her performance. The Royal College of Music London graduate debuted with ‘Albert Herring’ at Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and has given a solo recital at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace. She will be joined by countertenor Tom Scott-Cowell, also a graduate of the Royal College of Music London, and accompanying organist Sándor Károlyi. The concert programme features Gounod’s ‘Sanctus’, Pergolesi’s ‘Sancta Mater’, Mozart’s ‘Laudamus Te’ and Dvořák’s biblical songs ‘Gott erhöre mein Gebet’ and Herr! Nun sing’ ich Dir ein neues Lied’. After the last notes ring out, the audience will be invited to view the Alcantara chapel to see the newly restored sculpture, followed by an aperitivo in the courtyard. A generous donation is kindly requested, with all monies raised going towards the restoration.

Jane Adams
jane@caravaggioandcontemporary.com
www.caravaggioandcontemporary.com