The tomb of the renowned military commander and nobleman Melchiore Trevisan (d. 1500) is one of the most significant pieces of Venetian High Renaissance sculpture still in need of restoration. The monument celebrates Trevisan's distinguished career as the general and admiral who successfully led Venetian fleets in battles in Puglia, Lombardy and Greece.

While its attribution is still in dispute, the costly materials and high quality of the work confirm its status as a major example of Venetian art. The armor-clad statue of Trevisan, erected soon after his death in 1500, is carved from a single block of white marble, as are the two pages who flank him. Much of the sculptural detail is gilded, while the entire structure is decorated with precious marbles. The statue itself is framed by fanciful monochrome frescoes depicting armor and weaponry.

The monument was covered by a thick layer of dust and candle smoke, and darkened by wax and glue from previous restorations. In addition, the polychromy and gilding were deteriorating and flaking off. Under the aegis of the Superintendent of Fine Arts in Venice, restoration included microscopic examination of the layers of sediment, consolidation of the gilding, repair of broken marbles, cleaning of the surface with distilled water, and applying a protective coating to the whole.

Photo: Photo Böhm