L’Altare di San Giovanni
del Museo dell’Opera del Duomo di Firenze
Il restauro (2006-2012)

Edited by Clarice Innocenti

Three metres wide, one metre and a half high, one metre deep for a weight of two hundreds kilograms only considering the silver. These are the numbers of the Altare d’argento di San Giovanni, a real compendium of two centuries of History of Art. Realized under the patronage of the prestigious Arte di Calimala, its tiles were accomplished by the most important artists of the fourteenth and fifteenth century, such as Tommaso Ghiberti and Michelozzo, Andrea del Verrocchio, Antonio del Pollaiolo, Antonio di Salvi, Bernardo Cennini.

The book, after an introduction from an historical-artistic point of view, tells about the most important phases of the restoration realized and coordinated by the Opificio delle Pietre Dure di Firenze. The 1500 total pieces, 1050 of which glazed, have in fact been the object of an attentive and accurate work that has brought again the Altare to its past splendour.

The 300 colour illustrations, the result of a photographic campaign realized during the work’s phases, allow to grasp details never seen before.

In conclusion stands a meticulous technical-scientific examination of the materials that constitute the Altare.

Digital version available on

http://digital.casalini.it/9788874615162