On this Wednesday, the Vatican initiated the process of dusting off the baldachin of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the most renowned baroque sculptor. The baldachin, which is situated in St. Peter’s Basilica, has gathered dust over the past 250 years. This restoration is set to continue for the coming ten months, in preparation for the Jubilee of 2025, a significant event expected to draw approximately 32 million pilgrims to the Eternal City.
A team of ten to twelve members will undertake the restoration of this massive artwork, standing at a height of 28.74 meters and weighing a staggering 63 tons. The team will work daily until November’s end, ensuring the restoration does not interfere with “the development of the liturgical celebrations,” as per the Vatican’s information.
The estimated cost of the restoration process is around 700,000 euros. This expense will be covered by the American order, the Knights of Columbus.
This restoration marks the second in the monument’s history. The monument, resting on four slender twisted columns, stands nearly 30 meters tall and weighs in excess of 60 tons. The first comprehensive cleaning took place 266 years ago, in 1758, which spanned three months.
Beyond just dust removal, the restoration also aims to eliminate the layer of grime that has built up over time due to the influx of pilgrims. The process will also enhance the work originally commissioned to the young Bernini in 1623 by the newly elected Pope Urban VIII. At the time, Bernini was merely 25 years old but had already contributed to the papacy by designing the renowned St. Peter’s Square.
The construction of the dome of Saint Peter’s in the Vatican extended till 1634, with numerous artists such as Borromini, Andrea Bolgi, and Stefano Maderno participating in the work under Bernini’s direction. The artist crafted an immense work, extending more than twenty-eight meters high, bolstered by four Solomonic columns adorned with animal, plant, and geometric elements.
During the unveiling of the restoration work a month ago, Alberto Capitanucci, the head of the Technical Area of the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Factory, reassured that the examination of the Baldachin’s preservation state seems to rule out “a significant degradation of the metal”. However, he indicated the “presence of dark and heavy patinas due to greasy substances and atmospheric particles.”
Francis is anticipated to initiate the 2025 Jubilee of Hope before the liturgical celebrations of Christmas, by unlocking the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, a tradition dating back to the year 1,500. However, the Vatican has yet to disclose the exact opening date.
The coming year will witness Francis’s second jubilee, following the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy that began in Bangui, the Central African Republic’s capital, in November 2015. Vatican organizers are preparing for an expected 30 million pilgrims to partake in the grand Catholic event. The event has allocated a budget of 1.8 billion euros for citywide renovations in Rome.
