Titian Room Restoration

I am breathless about the Europa, even yet! I am back here tonight after two days...sitting for hours...thinking and dreaming about her.

Isabella Stewart Gardner, 1896

The object of Isabella’s affection was her latest acquisition: Titian’s painting The Rape of Europa. Isabella judged the Renaissance masterpiece so important that she named a gallery after its painter. The “Titian Room” remains today one of the grandest spaces in the Museum. Isabella carefully considered every detail of the room, and many of the objects evoke Venice, the Italian city that Isabella and her husband Jack returned to again and again.

Today, we are working to restore all of the elements of this space so that you can experience it as Isabella originally intended.

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Chief Research and Paintings Conservator Gianfranco works on Titian's Europa

Conserving Titian's Europa

This masterpiece recently underwent its first restoration in 90 years

Detail of the putto in Europa, photo by Sean Dungan

Creating the Titian Room

How Titian’s masterpiece was given pride of place in Isabella’s museum

John L. and Susan K. Gardner Director of Conservation Holly Salmon using an Er:YAG laser to clean the Farnese Sarcophagus.

Conservation at the Gardner

Conservators do daily battle to preserve objects in the collection