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Exhibitions and Projects
Revelations | 5 Jun. 2025 – 2 Jul. 2025

Revelations: Francesco Robba, Charles VI

New findings on the dried clay portrait

Portrait of Charles VI, a dried clay sculpture by Francesco Robba, is an exceptional sculptural work and a true rarity in Slovenia and in the wider European area. Dried or unfired clay is very delicate and not very durable, so it is almost a miracle that the sculpture, although in a poor state of preservation, has survived to this day.

In the restoration studio of the National Gallery, we took a closer look at the characteristics of this work of art. During the restoration process, we discovered traces of clay modelling, including the artist's fingerprints. Scientific investigations, such as mineral-petrographic analyses, analysis of samples of the image layers and radiological methods of study (X-ray, CT), have provided important information on the way the work was made, its composition and its history. The new discoveries represent a notable contribution to the conservation and restoration process, which aims to restore the physical integrity of the fragmented artefact, while at the same time it enriches our understanding of the artistic production of this important Baroque sculptor.

Author: 
Matevž Sterle

5 June – 2 July 2025
National Gallery of Slovenia
Prešernova 24
1000 Ljubljana