Ciatti will head “Opificio delle pietre dure”

FLORENCE, ITALY – The Italian government in the coming days to formalize the nomination of Marco Ciatti as Superintendent at Opificio delle Pietre Dure. The Opificio (littelry Workshop of Semi-precious Stones and Laboratories of Restoration) is a public institute of the Italian Ministry for Cultural Heritage based in Florence. It is a global leader in the field of art restoration and provides teaching as one of two Italian state conservation schools.

The institute maintains also a specialist library and archive of conservation and a museum displaying historic examples of Pietre Dure inlaid semi-precious stones artefacts. A scientific laboratory conducts research and diagnostics and provides a preventive conservation service.

Marco Ciatti graduated in History of Art during 1977 and has worked as Historical of the Art at Ministry for Cultural Heritage since 1980; between 1981 and 1984 he worked at the Soprintendenza for the Artistic and Historical Assets of Siena; since 1984 he works at “Opificio delle Pietre Dure” (O.P.D.) and Conservation Department of Florence. At present, Marco Ciatti is the Director of the Conservation of Mobile Painting Department and of the Textile Department at OPD. In the next days he will be nominated officialy Superintendent.

During his activities at OPD Ciatti directed conservation and restoration interventions on important works by Giotto, Raffaello, Botticelli, Frà Bartolomeo, Coppo di Marcovaldo, Giovanni Pisano and Rosso Fiorentino. He also worked on related activities such as catalogue publications and the organization of exhibitions concerning the restored artworks.

He is the author of more than 170 papers concerning different subjects, and attended national and international Congresses, restoring Conferences at several important cultural Institutes such as the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz, the Courtauld Institute in London, the Hamilton Kerr Institute in Cambridge, the Los Angeles Getty Conservation Institute, the Yale University Art Gallery and the Academy of the Fine arts and Restoration of Dresda.