The spouse’s sarcophagus restores public opinion –

The sarcophagus of the spouse is a clay sarcophagus from the 6th century BC, the most iconic masterpiece of Etruscan art and is undergoing a comprehensive new restoration in the public eye. The sarcophagus is the jewel on the crown of the Etruscan Museum in the Roman country of Giulia.

The sarcophagus is a huge ashes urn, composed of the lower part under the shape of a Kline or bed, with the highest part depicting a married couple lying at a banquet. The spouse is the lid of the ashes, and the bed is the place where the ashes are preserved. Their calm ancient smiles, spoons and tender embraces to the love bond between them proved – the Etruscan women are able to choose their spouses and love matches are common – and the erection and skills of the Etruscan pottery makers.

The spouse was first discovered in the Etruscan Randi Taxia Cemetery in Sevitri on April 9, 1881, and was not a spouse. The sarcophagus is just over 400 pieces found in the estate of Francesco Ruspoli, but archaeologist and founder The Villa Giulia Museum Felice Barnabei saw a female head in a pile of debris and knew it was special. His father was a manufacturer of Majolica, and Barnabei worked in his father’s workshops when he was young, so he was particularly passionate about pottery. He realized that all the debris came from the same “fire” and was therefore part of a large artifact (although being shot in the section because it was too big to fall in one fall).

In 1854, Marquis Campana discovered the only comparable sarcophagus and spouse in the Banditaccia neclopolis, and in 1861, purchased with another 10,000 works by Napoleon III and installed in Louvre. Barnabei has half male head and half male head in the fragments, and he suspects it is another sarcophagus of his spouse, who he hopes for the new Etruscan Museum (Rome) in Rome. But, he has competition. The director of the Etruria Archaeological Museum in Florence also hopes to do so. The battle with the fragments lasted for 12 years until in 1893 Barnabei finally made a bigger offer than his competitor (4,000 lires) and had Prince Ruspoli announce that he would only place the fragments in the Villa Gillia.

The fragments were trapped, and the magnificent result became the icon of the new museum, with its greatest attraction. The second intervention to maintain the work was conducted 50 years ago. This new project will focus on studying the sarcophagus to learn more about it and develop plans for its long-term protection and care. It will be laser scanned to create 3D models and gypsum castings are made in each section. A new installation system has also been designed to replace invasive (and corrosive) metal fixtures with durable, sturdy and clean carbon fibers.

The first phase of work has begun. The restorator is cleaning the surface of the sarcophagus with his legs and feet and spouse, wearing delicate pointed shoes and exposed feet. Use a cotton swab, water and a gentle solvent to remove the old black varnish covered with terracotta.

The recovery workshop will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.