Saving a Renaissance Masterpiece: The Restoration of Rusconi’s Vitruvius
In short: Discover how The Met preserves a rare 17th-century edition of Vitruvius’s Ten Books on Architecture. This video follows curator Femke Speelberg and conservator Clare Manias as they prepare Giovanni Antonio Rusconi’s heavily illustrated work for a public exhibition, highlighting the intersection of architectural history and delicate book conservation.
Giovanni Antonio Rusconi, who lived from approximately 1520 to 1587, produced a significant edition of Vitruvius’s foundational architectural text. The specific copy held by The Metropolitan Museum of Art was printed in Venice in 1669, though it is associated with a 1660 date. The volume is notable for its extensive woodcut illustrations, which provide a visual guide to classical design principles.
When fellow Yeo-Jin Katerina Bong identified the book in the Department of Drawings and Prints, its physical state was poor, necessitating professional intervention. The conservation process, supported by the Rogers Fund, ensures that this historical artifact remains accessible for study and display, bridging the gap between ancient architectural theory and the technical craftsmanship of the 17th century.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Conserving Rusconi: Vitruvius’s Ten Books on Architecture
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