- Dott. Alessandro Marinello, President
- Prof. Michele Gottardi, Director
History of the Committee
The Università Internazionale dell’Arte (International University of Art – UIA) was founded in 1969, in the wake of the tragic floods in Venice and Florence, to make a concrete contribution to studies, projects and interventions, using the most advanced scientific and technical resources in the field of conservation of the artistic heritage.
Since its inception, the UIA has been running training and specialisation courses for operators and technicians, offering a high level of scientific expertise and operational skills in the field of restoration and conservation of works of art. As the first institution to carry out this activity at a higher level, the International University of Art has trained many of the restoration and conservation professionals who work for the Superintendencies, in various professional activities and in training institutions, in Venice and in Italy.
Founded by two great masters, Giuseppe Mazzariol and Carlo Ludovico Ragghianti in Venice and Florence respectively, the UIA has survived only in the lagoon, on the island of Giudecca. The UIA is housed in the Ville Hériot complex where the training courses are held, in premises suitable for teaching activities with well-equipped laboratories, computer room and specialist library.
Numerous restoration projects have been carried out for the city’s major institutions, involving wooden artefacts for liturgical use such as repositories, crucifixes, sacristy furniture and various frames and eighteenth-century artefacts from the Ca’ Rezzonico museum.
As regards stone, the main projects have been for the portico of the cloister of San Francesco della Vigna, the flooring of the church of San Nicola da Tolentino and the marble decorations in the courtyard of the Benedetto Marcello Conservatory, as well as the restoration of the portal by Giovanni Buora in one of the cloisters of the Fondazione G. Cini. As for decorated architectural surfaces, work has focused on Villa Lippomano (San Vendemiano) and, in succession since 2011, on numerous interventions on the stuccoes, wall paintings and plasterwork of the Church of San Nicola da Tolentino (vulgo Tolentini).
Current projects
Restoration of numerous wooden, carved, gilded and polychrome objects and artefacts, belonging to the Fondazione Giorgio Cini on the island of San Giorgio, Venice; restoration of three well heads located in the chiostro dei Cipressi in front of the Salone degli Arazzi and the Cenacolo of the Fondazione Giorgio Cini; restoration of two pairs of statues and relative portals, located along the Scalone del Longhena; restoration of the decorated surfaces – stuccoes, wall paintings and plasterwork – located in the northern portion of the transept, north and west front, at the Church of San Nicola da Tolentino, Venice.
Future projects
Collaborations with the Fondazione Giorgio Cini, the church of San Nicola da Tolentino and a new partnership with the Fondazione Querini Stampalia will continue.
What can be and is the role of our Committee within the Association?
The UIA has the task of combining training and restoration, so it could suggest and/or promote internships for young graduates within the sites of the various Committees.
What does working in Venice mean for our Committee?
It means showing how the ethics and aesthetics of restoration take shape through education and comparison, both of which are useful in training the next generations of restorers.