By Amanda A. Taylor-Uchoa

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – AUG. 15, 2023 – Ten UTRGV students learned about art restoration and preservation while under the Tuscan sun this summer, during a Study Abroad minimester to Italy from May 15 to June 1.

The course, Individual Problems/Museum Studies & Introduction to Art Restoration, was led by Dr. Elena Macias, UTRGV professor of Art in the UTRGV College of Fine Arts.

They weren’t just under a Tuscan sun, though. For two weeks, they traveled through Florence, Santa Maria Tiberina, Rome and the Vatican, visiting museums, historic churches and art institutions to participate in lectures and demonstrations by art preservationists.

The students were able to stroll though some of the most beautiful museums in Florence, including the Uffizi, the Accademia dell’ Arte, the Galileo, Palazzo Vecchio, and the expansive Vatican Museum in Rome. Also on the itinerary: roaming the ancient halls of historic churches like Ognissanti, Santa Maria Novella and Santa Croce.

“Students learned about restoration of art and the importance of conservation of art,” Macias said. “Some of these churches are going through different forms of restoration and architectural restoration, which includes artwork, paintings and sculptures. So, our students got to see this all firsthand.”  

Several prominent art institutions – including the Lorenzo de Medici Institute in Florence, the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, and the Caravaggio & Contemporary Research Art Center in Santa Maria Tiberina in Umbria – hosted the students for lectures and demonstrations in art preservation.

“It’s so important for our students to be exposed to disciplines that we don’t show them here in the Valley,” Macias said. “They got to meet with professional restorers, such as Roberta Lapucci and Veronica Piraccini.”

UTRGV students at the Lorenzo Di Medici Institute in Florence. Several prominent art institutions – including the Lorenzo de Medici Institute in Florence, the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, and the Caravaggio & Contemporary Research Art Center in Santa Maria Tiberina in Umbria – hosted the students for lectures and demonstrations in art preservation. (Courtesy Photo)

Students had the opportunity to learn about Galileo’s research in optics at the Galileo Museum in Florence, and later, in Rome, they were able to view drawings and paintings of Galileo’s research and learn how this distinct work has been applied to work by renowned artists such as Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, known as simply Caravaggio.

Caravaggio is responsible for masterpieces such as Judith Beheading Holofernes (1598) and Medusa (1597-98).

Drawings and paintings made by students during workshops were hung in a brief exhibition at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome. 

‘SOMETHING I WILL NEVER FORGET’

The students – seven studying in the UTRGV School of Art & Design, two in Psychology and one from Marine Biology – may have come from different fields of study, but the opportunity was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that brought them all together.

Edgar Cruz, a junior pursuing a Fine Arts degree in Studio Art, said learning about how to work with camera obscura and the overall process of restoration were the main highlights from the trip for him.

“Learning about the process of art restoration was fascinating and intriguing. Also, meeting successful adults in the field of art living in Italy was incredible and something I will never forget,” he said.

Hannia Martinez, a senior Graphic Design major, said she hopes this study abroad trip will not be her last.

“This program was one of the best experiences I’ve had in my life,” she said. “This was my first time studying abroad and my favorite part of the trip was seeing the Colosseum lit up at night and enjoying its beauty amongst the Roman community.”

Aaliyah Vasquez, also a senior Graphic Design major, said she never realized how time consuming the process of art preservation was.

“We learned about just how important it is for art to be preserved properly/ and learned, as an art restorer, which artwork should be restored and how much should be kept as is,” she said.

Vasquez believes study abroad courses help students broaden their perspectives and help create a unique environment to advance learning.

“This trip was an amazing opportunity for my career and my learning journey. As a student and as an artist, this trip will be one I will never, ever forget,” she said.

To learn more about UTRGV’s Study Abroad program, visit the link here.

Students at the Lorenzo Di Medici Institute in Florence during an Individual Problems/Museum Studies & Introduction to Art Restoration study abroad course for summer 2023. (Courtesy Photo)