These two marble masterpieces, attributed to Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli and formerly housed in the Palazzo Nuovo of the Capitoline Museums, are Roman copies of Greek originals by Polyclitus and Phidias, who created them between 440 and 437 BC for the sanctuary of Artemis at Ephesus.
In 1999, the statues were moved to the exhibition spaces of the Centrale Monte Martini (a former power plant) in Rome, and restored there by CCA, Rome.
The restoration was performed using techniques aimed at conserving the original materials; this approach was combined with accurate documentation and study of the techniques used in antiquity to create the works.
Given the statues’ importance to the study of art history and archaeology, the CCA organized a worksite with public access, enabling thousands of visitors and scholars to follow the work phases live.
Illustrated panels, guided visits with interviews of the conservators at work, and teaching materials for youngsters stimulated the interest of a vast public; the project highlighted the fragility of artistic and archaeological heritage and the conservation techniques currently used to protect it.
The educational program involved opening of the worksite to the public, guided visits, publication and editing of didactic materials.
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