I am pleased today to announce the latest art conservation and restoration project for 2022, a delicately complicated project led by the restorer and architect Ms Federica Corsini with her team, Daniela Lippi and Roberta Buda.

The Trittico Portatile, Bernardo Daddi’s 1333 masterpiece.

Once work is completed, the tryptic will be available to the public again at the Museo del Bigallo, on the Piazza del Duomo in Florence, the original home in Florence of the Brotherhood of Mercy (Misericordia) founded in 1244, for those in need. A society that continues that same work of care to this day. The oldest lay, non-confessional Brotherhood for the care of those in need in existence in Europe.

As we do daily, but especially as millions flee war and are in need and we do what we can to assist and ease their suffering, I can think of no better reminder through the conservation of a work of art that travelled through places and time, bringing peace and serenity to many, secured again, in a place of mercy.

We will not be accepting any donations for this specific work as many of you have done in the past, and request that you support and show mercy for those in need today; specifically for the millions of Ukrainian refugees, or self-exiles from a brutal, repressive regime in Russia and Belarus. Please let me know, if you would like to engage in some way…we can use the help here in Europe!

Mircea would have wanted it that way.

Of course, many of your regular donations to support new talent and future projects warmly welcomed !

I look forward to seeing you here in Florence upon completion of Federica and team’s work in a few months time and to introduce you to some of the new talent the Foundation continues to support at the Association Bastioni art conservation studio http://www.associazionebastioni.com/ of whom Mircea was a proud member until his end