At the center of the research are thirteen portraits—nine by Rosalba and four attributed to her school—executed in pastel on blue paper. These notably fragile and delicate materials make any type of conservation treatment particularly complex.

To address this challenge, the Accademia is undertaking a comprehensive program of investigations to determine how to best safeguard and treat these remarkable pieces. The results of the research will guide the conservation of Rosalba’s pastels in Venice and provide an opportunity for discussion and comparison for other museum institutions and restorers who may face similar issues.

Support from Save Venice makes this work possible, funding the scientific analysis, the acquisition of a new ER-FTIR Spectrometer, the involvement of three young researchers specialized in conservation chemistry and diagnostics, and consultation with leading pastel conservators from the U.K. and Switzerland.