News & Stories

Save Venice continues to celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2022 and is proud to reaffirm and deepen its commitment to the heritage sites that inspired our organization’s creation. The church of Santa Maria e San Donato on the island of Murano is one of these special sites and has been a priority for Save Venice since the 1970s. We are excited to announce our latest campaign for San Donato to fund treatment of the 12th-century Madonna Orante mosaic and gold background of the central apse, as well as structural integrations of the apse and treatment of the exterior wall.

This scope of work represents a c. $900,000 funding need, and we gratefully thank the donors who have helped launch the campaign. Generous partial funding has been provided by The Thompson Family Foundation, with additional support from Linda & William DeBene.

Nearly a century has passed since the wall mosaics in San Donato were last conserved. The entire surface of the vault mosaics is covered in thick grime, distorting the brilliance of the gold background and polychrome details. Numerous sections of the mosaic have begun to loosen and detach from the supporting mortar and a few substantial cracks are now visible from the front apex of the vault of the presbytery, continuing downward past the figure of the Madonna Orante. Urgent treatment is needed to stabilize and repair the cracks in the underlying structure of the vault, while concurrently consolidating the precarious sections of the mosaic as soon as possible, or further deterioration and permanent losses could occur.

The exterior of the apse will also be restored to ensure that this area of the church’s structure is watertight and provides adequate protection and support for the artistic treasures within. Conservation is needed on other elements in the presbytery, including the wooden choir, the 15th-century frescoes below the mosaics, and high altar.

Master mosaicist Giovanni Cucco is leading the conservation treatment of the apse mosaics, consolidating the precarious sections, repairing any damaged tesserae, and completing a surface cleaning. The conservation of the adjacent frescoes of Evangelists and marble cornice is to be completed through fieldwork of the IVBC restoration school students from April–July 2022, with partial funding from the Veneto Region. Throughout the summer, these students will have the opportunity to observe and assist Giovanni Cucco, gaining valuable knowledge from his expertise in the process. Work on the exterior of the apse throughout summer 2022 will run concurrently with the conservation of the mosaics.

Help us preserve one of Venice’s most beloved and vulnerable heritage sites with a gift to the San Donato Campaign. $760,000 remains to be raised. 
To request a deck or learn more about sponsorship levels and benefits, contact kim@savevenice.org.