Virgin with Child and Adoring Angles statues on Florence's Duomo seen in color ... trends now
Florence's Duomo is still revealing new secrets - restorations uncovered traces of once hidden color on the Virgin with Child and Adoring Angles marble sculptures.
While cleaning 10,000 square feet of the marble, teams uncovered the brown iris of Mary's left eye, the bluish-green and red of her cloak and the rich brocade pattern, designed to mimic woven fabric, on the gown worn by the Christ Child.
Museums directors had long believed the statues were created in natural white marble to match the Duomo's exterior of white, pink and green marble, never did experts ever think there would be such coloring.
The restoration, which cleaned 10,000 square feet of the cathedral, determined a layer of brown oxalate had been applied to the marble to protect the structure, but this also covered up the colors.
The spectacular find suggests that other sculpture groups positioned around the church may also feature colors that have yet to be revealed.
Restorations began in September 2021 and focused on the north side because this area is heavily degraded by erosion from rainwater runoff, deposits of surface dirt, black sulfurous encrustations and bird feces
Teams spent the time cleaning 10,000 square feet of the north side, revealing colors that had been hiding, such as the brown iris of Mary's left eye
Restorations began in September 2021 and focused on the north side because this area is heavily degraded by erosion from rainwater runoff, deposits of surface dirt, black sulfurous encrustations and bird feces.
The Duomo, also called Florence Cathedral or Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, was the world's largest church when it was consecrated in 1436 - it has a capacity for 30,000 people.
Construction began in 1293, but was not finished for more than 140 years due to architects leaving, dying and expanding the building of the dome, which required more time to complete.
The dome, however, is an iconic feature of the Duomo, featuring two layers: an inner shell stretching the diameter and a parallel outer shell to protect it from the weather.
Approximately 24 stone half arches support both shells, or ribs, which taper and meet at an open stone
