B.

Taking Stock

Behind the scenes

It's hard to believe, but only eighteen collection works were damaged as a result of all earthquakes, with fourteen damaged on the 22 February 2011.

Not bad for a collection of some 6,400 works, and taking into account the level of destruction on our back doorstep. There were a few near misses but the low level of damage can be attributed to preventative measures in storage and on display, and a robust building which performed well in all events. And the good news: not one single work has been completely lost. Conservation is underway, starting with Alfredo Biagini's Dante's Beatrice.

Heads roll...

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Before conservation...

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And, after conservation...

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Apparently the repair of the bust was the easy part... now onto the plinth, which is in hundreds of pieces.