Giorgio Vasari & Court Culture in Late Renaissance Italy

Restoring Vasari’s Christ Carrying the Cross

In preparation for the exhibition, the Spencer Museum commissioned an evaluation of Vasari’s Christ Carrying the Cross and authorized its cleaning and conservation. During the painting’s restoration grime and a layer of darkened, yellowed varnish were removed, revealing Vasari’s original vivid colors, which are dominated by brilliant reds, bright yellow, and various shades of blue.