“Platina“ come home

“Platina“ come home

The Fresco for the Vatican Tribunal

Project Overview
The project aimed to reinstall a faithful reproduction of “Sixtus IV Appoints Platina Prefect of the Vatican Library” by Melozzo da Forlì in its original location inside the Vatican Tribunal Palace, as the original fresco is now preserved in the Vatican Pinacoteca. The goal was to restore the visual and architectural memory of the place, recreating the same material presence and luminous depth through the exclusive pictography on fresco technique developed by Bottega Tifernate.

Challenges
The main challenge lay in managing the monumental dimensions of the work and achieving a seamless connection between the three large structural panels. Every step required high precision to ensure stability, uniformity, and perfect pictorial continuity.

Process
The three honeycomb panels were prepared with lime putty and joined using a thin layer of compatible resin, creating a homogeneous and resistant base. On this surface, the pictography a giornate was executed, following the authentic principles of the fresco technique.
After the transfer of the image, the painters retouched the entire surface by hand, carefully masking the joins and restoring tonal harmony. The use of shell gold, applied according to the original artistic plan, reinstated the Renaissance brilliance of Melozzo’s composition. Finally, a protective finish compatible with the materials was applied to ensure long-term conservation.

Installation
Once completed and packed, the fresco was transported to Rome. A detailed analysis of the destination wall guided the creation of a custom anchoring system with concealed screws. With the assistance of the Tribunal’s staff, the work was installed, and the perimeter edges were finished with lime, providing both structural stability and a perfect visual integration with the architecture.

Outcome
The project successfully returned the historic image to its rightful context, restoring the unity between artwork and environment that had been lost for decades. At the end of the installation, the director of the Tribunal expressed her gratitude with words that encapsulate the spirit of the entire project:

“The Platina has come home.”