ABSTRACT
Thefinalyearsofthetwentiethcenturyhaveseenanoutburstofrestorationthat hasreachednearepidemicproportions.InFlorenceIamconstantlyamazedtosee ineverycomeroftheoldcityontheAmoscaffoldsallovertheplace,andniches, sculptures,andpaintingsbeingcleaned.Ithinksomethinghasgoneamuck.Ina virtualorgy,paintingsoncanvas,woodenpanels,andwallsexecutedindiverse techniques-oil,tempera,watercolor,wax,truefresco,mosaic,stainedglass, marbleinlays,anddrawings-areallbeingsubjectedtothegrandtreatment. However,astateofnearanarchyexistsintermsofstandards,methods,techniques,andphilosophy.Furthermore,two-dimensionalworkscomprisebuta smallportionoftherestorationeffort.Sculpturesofeverykind,stoneranging frommarbletogranite,variouswoods,terracotta,coatedceramics,andprecious metalsarealsoundergoingakindofRenaissanceofrestoration.
