Cellini's Perseo is Being Restored

Benvenuto Cellini tells us that a "great cry of admiration" arose from the throng gathered to watch the unavailing of his Perseo in the Loggia dei Lanzi on April 27th, 1554. It was different, this time: On a cold December 5th people gathered quietly to watch the statue be moved around the corner to the restoration labs in the Uffizi, a job that took the better part of a day and brought no cries of joy, just a feeling of sorrow that yet another of Florence's treasures has succumbed to the dangers of the modern era: Air pollution and the threat of vandals; even after the statue was restored it remained securely indoors, while a copy took its place, to cross eyes with the copy of the Davide across the way.

Melancholy yes, but also pleasure: The statue really did need to be restored, and when it reemerged from the labs after more than two years we beheld a marvel that rivaled the Bronzi di Riace.