On October 13, the McMullen Museum of Art hosted Dr. Barbara Jatta for a virtual discussion on Rafael and the Vatican. Named in 2016 as the Director of Vatican Museums by Pope Francis, Jatta is a renowned scholar of art and art history, both demonstrated by her many years of academic training and exceptional professional service to the Holy See.
Introduced by Professor of Art History and Inaugural Robert L. and Judith T. Winston Director of the McMullen Museum of Art Dr. Nancy Netzer, Jatta began her lecture by acknowledging the importance of Rafael to the Vatican, even displaying a picture of museum tickets highlighting the 16th-century artist.
Turning to the history of Rafael’s work in Rome, Jatta provided the audience with an overview of Rafael’s most famous pieces, many of which were commissioned by Popes Julius II and Leo X. During this more than a decade of work for the Holy See, Jatta explained that Rafael held numerous important roles, perhaps most especially as Curator of Antiques. From the perspective of art historians, she noted that Rafael’s tenure as Curator represented a new era of care for relics of the past, one which created a model of care for the arts that continues to this day.
Since 2020 is the 500th anniversary of Rafael’s death, the latter half of Jatta’s lecture delved more deeply into the Vatican’s approach to honoring Rafael’s legacy. In addition to new exhibitions and editorial projects, Jatta stated that she and her team are planning an international symposium on Rafael in the Vatican and new external collaborations with other Raphaelesque celebrations.
In terms of COVID-19’s effect on museum operations, Jatta later described the rigorous security protocols that have allowed patrons to return to Vatican Museums since June 1. Although visits now require online reservations and are monitored by thermoscanners, Jatta emphasized that their 7,000 daily visitors seem grateful for the ability to safely admire these famous works of art during a pandemic.
Keeping with her overarching focus on Rafael’s long-term contributions to the Vatican and to art more broadly, Jatta then displayed various images of restoration projects on Rafael’s works. With the generous financial contributions of American patrons in particular, Jatta noted, the Vatican Museums have been engaged in numerous restoration projects tentatively planned to conclude in 2021 that have allowed for the beauty of Rafael’s pieces to be appreciated.
Aside from the increased visual appreciation that restored pieces of art can bring, Jatta also highlighted the fact that the restoration of Rafael’s pieces has provided researchers with new bases for fruitful scientific and sociocultural analysis.
Toward the conclusion of the event, Netzer moderated a brief question and answer period with Jatta that allowed members of the audience to inquire about Rafael and various aspects of the Vatican Museums. From the chemical composition of Rafael’s paintings to the financing of restoration projects, and just about everything in between, Jatta provided a uniquely insightful perspective into the role that Rafael has had in the Vatican and the importance of his work to the world of art.
Featured image courtesy of Giacomo Bretzel
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