Past Event

Monday, November 14, 2016

Remembering the Florence Flood -- 50 Years Later

On November 4, 1966 the city of Florence, Italy suffered its worst flood in more than 400 years. At its highest, the water in the city reached 6.7 meters (approximately 22 feet).  More than 100 people lost their lives. Thousands were made homeless. The loss to property was incalculable. But Florence is not just any city, it houses some of the greatest art treasures in the world.  The great Cimabue Crucifixion, dating to the 13th century, suffered irreparable damage. Six relief panels from Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise were forced off the doors, and thousands of other artworks and more than a milliion books and manuscripts were damaged. Conservators and volunteers from all over the world went to Italy to help. Conservation work went on for years.

Join us as two of the conservators, Marco Grassi and Susanne Sack, who went to Florence to help, and Philippe de Montebello, who was in Florence at the time of the Flood, share their reminiscences and insights.

The discussions wil be preceded by a showing of highlights from the documentary film -- Florence: Days of Destruction -- produced in 1966, within weeks of the disaster.  It is directed by Franco Zeffirelli and narrated by Richard Burton. The film was made in both Italian and English. IFAR will be showing the English version, using a rare copy graciously lent to us by the University of Maryland.

Registration and Pre-Payment for the Event are required.

Q&A and a Reception will Follow the Talks

Event Speaker(s)

Philippe de Montebello
Director Emeritus, The Metropolitan Museum of Art; Fiske Kimball Professor, Institute of Fine Arts, NYU

Marco Grassi, Paintings Conservator and Consultant; Member, IFAR Art Advisory Council

Susanne P. Sack, Former Chief Conservator, Brooklyn Museum of Art; Honorary Fellow, International Institute for Conservation