News & Events

News & Events

40th Anniversary of the Patrons

The Washington DC Chapter is excited to invite all of its members to a special trip to Rome to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Patrons! Events in Rome will be from Monday, November 6 through Friday, November 10, 2023. The plans include private tours of the Museums, a visit to the Pope’s summer residence at Castel Gandolfo (including the Apostolic Palace, the Gardens, and the Observatory), Mass and a reception at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, an audience with the Holy Father, and Vespers in the Sistine Chapel followed by a gala dinner inside the Museums. 

Please send an email to Sue@Lohsen.com if you have any questions. 

Ci vediamo a Roma! 

 

Posted on March 5, 2023

TOUR OF THE APOSTOLIC NUNCIATURE

The Washington DC Chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums
has arranged for a private tour of the Apostolic Nunciature of the United States of America

Saturday, May 20, 2023
10 am

Brother Joseph Britt, CFX, Archivist of the Vatican Embassy, has graciously offered to give our Chapter a private tour of the artwork in the Nunciature.

Patrons and guests are welcome!

The tour will take approximately 1.5 hours. A donation of $20 is requested. We will meet at the Nunciature: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC at 10 am.

After the tour, we are planning on going to lunch at DeCarlo’s Restaurant, located at:
4000 Cathedral Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016. More details coming soon.

Please RSVP to Gracia@francklohsen.com or by calling (202)460-4945 by May 7th.
You can purchase your tickets here: TICKETS
We hope you can join us for this very special and unique opportunity!

Posted on March 4, 2023

New Restoration Project 2023

The Board of Directors of the Washington DC Chapter is proud to announce the adoption of a new project for 2023: 

Conservation and Maintenance of the Santa Rosa Necropolis

 

This project will offer visitors a wonderful chance to explore an ancient burial site from the 1st century BC to the 3rd century AD. The work in this project will include:

  • A scientific analysis to assess the state of preservation of sepulchers, artwork, sarcophagi, and urns
  • A complete dusting of all architectural elements and artwork
  • Reassembly of stuccoes on the ceilings of four Columbari (Sepulchers II, III, XVII, and XVIII)
  • An in-depth study and restoration of the area and elements around the Tomb of Alcimus (the scenographer of Emperor Nero), which has been affected by microbiologial attacks

The total cost of the project is $27,762.55

Thanks to your generosity we are able to sponsor such an important project! More details about this restoration will be posted soon. 

 

 

Posted on December 12, 2022

Castel Gandolfo, Part 1

Enjoy the 1st episode of the new Insiders Course for free!

Castel Gandolfo, Part 1 (Gardens and Villa Barberini). 

There is still time to register for the New Season! Click Here to find out more by downloading our program. 

REGISTER NOW

Posted on November 21, 2022

PAVM Insiders Course – New Season

Don’t miss out on the chance to discover the past, present, and future of the faith, the art, and the overwhelming beauty of the Vatican City State.

Join a global and unique community of learners.


Mystery, Genius, Beauty and Faith are waiting for you!

Click Here for a preview of the New Season.

  REGISTER NOW  

 

Posted on November 20, 2022

ANNUAL DINNER 2021

The Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums 2021 Annual Black Tie Dinner was a great success!  His Excellency, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, graciously hosted the Washington DC Chapter at the Apostolic Nunciature. Being our first gathering since 2019, all were eager to once again enjoy each other’s company. 

The evening kicked off with a festive cocktail hour and concluded with a sumptuous three-course meal held in the Nunciature’s grand Dining Room.  During dessert, PAVM International Director, Fr. Kevin Lixey, L.C., gave an update on the Vatican Museums after struggling through Covid. In closing, Fr. Lixey presented former longtime Chapter Leaders, CEM & Judy Martin, with a limited edition print of the Vatican Museums along with a thank you letter from museum director, Barbara Yatta.  We are all extremely grateful to the 19-years of service that CEM & Judy donated to the Patrons. 

Please Click Here to see pictures of this wonderful event! 

Posted on December 14, 2021

Magna Carta exhibition

On July 1, the Museum of the Bible invited the Washington Patrons to a private VIP preview tour of the exhibition, Magna Carta: Justice. Liberty. The exhibition features the Hereford Cathedral Magna Carta, the King’s Writ sent from Runnymede Field in 1215, and the Sandwich Magna Carta, seen by Thomas Paine in 1759, among other important documents and historic artifacts.
After the tour, there was a reception with the officials from Hereford Cathedral, the British Embassy, the exhibition curators, and other special guests. 

 

Posted on July 14, 2021

RESTORATION PROJECT COMPLETED

We are proud to announce the completion of our restoration project, the Croce Astile, a Tuscan crucifix which was sponsored by the Washington, DC Chapter. Thanks to your generosity, beautiful artifacts like this will remain a vibrant example of the beauty and artistry of the Vatican Museums. 

Final Restoration Report

The Croce Astile is part of the Baroque collection which became part of the Vatican Museums collection in 2007, thanks to the donation of Carlo and Lucia Barocchi. The work is the fruit of Tuscan silversmiths. According to the information that we have, it would seem that the cross, the crucifix, and the graft with the globe belong to different periods.

The cross is made of gold-plated, silver-plated copper alloy. What differentiates this work from the most common processional crosses is the lack of a wooden supporting element, replaced by a sheet of silver-plated copper alloy with the ends of the two orthogonal poly-lobed arms.

An iron bayonet, welded to the lower end of the longer arm, in turn, is in the socket of the silver element. The ten gilded frames, five on each side, give volume and importance to the cross and the riveted pins attach the two faces of the bearing plate.

On the front of the cross is the figure of Christ, realized in silver and of excellent workmanship. At the top is a traditional scroll and in the lower part above the poly-lobed tile is a skull. On the back there are no inserted figures. The laboratory only noticed the presence of a hook in the upper part.

The Intervention

The objective of the restoration targeted the removal of the dark areas that cover the greater part of the work. In particular, these areas cover the light of the small model of the realization of Christ finely realized by expert hands.

After the preliminary documentation of the cross, restorers moved on to the disassembly of all constituent elements. In order to do this, it was necessary to remove the old metal pins that held the parts together. Restorers then used polar solvents, such as acetone and ethyl alcohol, to remove the old protective layer and the layer of organic substances.

They removed the brown patina, probably composed of silver sulfides, by means of complexing agents and a mechanical action with micronized calcium carbonate and demineralized water. The degree of hardness of this product prevented in-depth action and therefore fully respected the patina of the silver. The laser welder (Mark-uno 7500) restored the detached parts. At the end of the cleaning process, all the parts were thoroughly rinsed with demineralized water. Then a dehydration process took place and the usual procedures followed.

At the end of the restoration intervention, there was an application of protective film (ZAPON in acetone 30% p/p) to keep the surface’s tone, light, and brightness as long as possible.

In the substitution of the old pins in metal, removed during the phases of the disassembly of the work, the laboratory realized through 3D software that the new pins are from two elements. After being molded in castable resin, the pins are of copper alloy casting.

This new assemblage system is important because it does not require a deconstruction of the cross, which will be helpful for eventual new restoration interventions in the future.

Removing the old metal constraints

Castable resin pin printing and the new pins made of copper alloy

Constructed elements of the cross

Front and back of the cross after the restoration

Posted on May 24, 2021