On February 10 2025, the Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze hosted a Study Day dedicated to the plaster models of Lorenzo Bartolini and Vincenzo Vela.

The event, titled ‚Oltre il gessso‘: The Study of Lorenzo Bartolini and Vincenzo Vela’s Models, wasorganized by the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per la città metropolitana di Firenze e le province di Pistoia e Prato (SABAP-FI), the Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera italiana di Mendrisio (SUPSI), and the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze.

This study has been a great opportunity to explore, through direct comparison, the variety of techniques and materials used in creating plaster models, aiming to deepen the understanding of the role of the model in the work of these two artists. The event was structured into four sessions, starting at 9:30 AM and concluding at 6:00 PM.

The first session (9:30 – 11:00 AM) – introduced by Carlo Sisi, Art Historian and former President of the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, and moderated by Sandro Bellesi, Art Historian – focused on the two artists and their respective collections, offering insights into their lives, artistic careers, and legacies.

The second session (11:30 AM – 1:00 PM) began with a focus on the study of plaster models, featuring the Bartolini Project, funded by the Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze, and The Sculptor’s Mark: Plaster Models in the Legacy of Vincenzo Vela, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. The discussion will be moderated by Augusto Giuffredi, former professor at the Accademia di Belle Arti of Bologna.

In the afternoon, the focus shifted to diagnostic investigations. The third session (2:00 – 3:15 PM) illustrated the technical methods used to study plaster models, including technical photography, surveys and 3D scans, and radiographic analyses. The session will be moderated by Chiara Fornari, Restoration Officer at the Opificio delle Pietre Dure in Florence.

Finally, the closing session (3:45 – 6:00 PM) provided an overview of the most notable case studies, including Carità educatrice, the Tavola degli Amori, the Monument to Leon Battista Alberti, and busts and portraits by Lorenzo Bartolini. The discussion was moderated by Alberto Felici, Restoration Officer at the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per la città metropolitana di Firenze e le province di Pistoia e Prato.

The event was available via live streaming on the museum’s YouTube channel.

PROGRAMMA_Giornata di studio_10.2.25_Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze