Loading...
The Restoration of a Masterpiece: "Hippomenes and Atalanta", by Guido Reni
This documentary offers an in-depth look at one of Guido Reni’s most celebrated and controversial works—and, more broadly, at Bolognese Baroque art: "Hippomenes and Atalanta". Guido Reni (1575–1642) played a fundamental role as a highly personal interpreter of what was already described in his own time as “divine beauty”. "Hippomenes and Atalanta" has long been considered one of the pinnacles of Reni’s art, yet its recent restoration marked a true turning point. Through this documentary, viewers are able to observe the painting as never before, with a clarity and quality that lift it free from the veils of cloud and shadow that had long obscured it. The film follows the specialists as they undertake the restoration of a work of such importance. On the one hand, it explains the significance of removing varnishes and overpainting that had degraded the surface and darkened the image; on the other, it invites viewers to take part in the choice of a frame designed to restore the work to its original dimensions. The restoration has not only made it possible to appreciate the composition as conceived by the Italian master, but has also raised new questions regarding the influence of Caravaggio on Reni’s work. The intervention lasted nine months and was made possible thanks to the patronage of the Iberdrola Spain Foundation.