Restored in 2005 with funding from Young Friends of Save Venice, Boston Chapter.

This polyptych, or multi-paneled altarpiece, was executed by Bolognese painter Michele di Matteo to decorate the altar of the chapel dedicated to Saint Helena in the church of Sant’Elena in Castello. The chapel was built at the behest of Alessandro Borromeo in 1418, to house the relics of Saint Helena, who was the mother of Constantine and responsible for the rediscovery of the True Cross, upon which Christ was crucified. The polyptych was commissioned by his nephew, Galeazzo Borromeo.

The central panel depicts the Madonna adoring the Christ Child, in the company of four angels; this image is flanked by four female saints, with Lucy and Helena on the left, and Mary Magdalene and Catherine of Alexandria on the right. A scene of the Crucifixion, surrounded by the four Evangelists — Matthew, Mark, John, and Luke — dominates the upper level. In the predella below, five scenes narrate episodes from the life of Saint Helen and her discovery of the relic of the True Cross.

At the bottom of the altarpiece appears the artist’s signature in Latin: “Michael Mathei da Bononia F.” (Michele di Matteo from Bologna made this).

Two octagonal pilasters once framed the central body of the polyptych; these were decorated with 56 small panel paintings of full- and half-length figures of saints. Following the Napoleonic suppression of the church, these paintings were removed from the polyptych and sold on the art market.

The polyptych was restored by conservator Lucia Tito of the CBC restoration firm, with the guidance of project director Giulio Manieri Elia of the Superintendency of Fine Arts of Venice.

For select projects, conservation dossiers in Italian containing limited textual and photographic documentation may be available for consultation by appointment at the Venice office of Save Venice and the Rosand Library & Study Center. For inquiries, please contact us at venice@savevenice.org.

Michele di Matteo (active 1410–1469)
Sant’Elena Polyptych
c. 1430-1437, egg tempera and gilding on wood
342 x 228.5 cm

Gallerie dell’Accademia: Homepage

Gallerie dell’Accademia: Link to the Work

Manieri Elia, Giulio, ed. Masterpieces Restored: The Gallerie dell’Accademia and Save Venice Inc. Venice: Marsilio, 2010, pp. 44-63