Giovanni Bellini's monumental 15th-century altarpiece, the San Giobbe altarpiece, is undergoing its most extensive restoration in over 500 years at the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice. Deemed too fragile to move, the two-year, €500,000 project will stabilize the cracked wood panel and analyze pigments using advanced imaging, all performed behind glass in full public view.
The restoration is a significant public conservation event, highlighting modern museum practices that integrate science, preservation, and visitor engagement. The altarpiece is a milestone in Venetian art for its architectural harmony and scale, and its treatment will deepen understanding of Bellini's techniques and the painting's original state, funded largely by the non-profit Venetian Heritage.