PROMOTION OF THE RESTORED PAINTING “THE HOLY FAMILY WITH ST. CATHERINE, ST. JOHN AND DONOR”, BY JACOPO PALMA IL VECCHIO

Belgrade, 5 December 2006 – In cooperation with the National Museum of Belgrade, HRH Crown Prince Alexander II has presented to the public the restored Jacopo Palma Vecchio’s painting “The Holy Family With St. Catherine, St. John and Donor”, which is kept in the Royal Palace in Dedinje and is considered one of the most important works of Italian art in Serbian collections. The result of this joint project, whose carriers were Italian Istituto Centrale per il Restauro (ICR) and the National Museum of Belgrade was presented at the press conference in the National Museum.

The works on restoration lasted seven months and were conducted by Italian and Serbian experts in the National Museum’s Centre for Conservation. The painting will be exposed to public in the National Museum until December 11, when it will be returned to the Royal Palace. The public will have the opportunity to see it in the Royal Palace in spring, when the Palace opens its gates for visitors.

The project of restoration was financed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and supported by the Serbian Ministry of Culture.

At the press conference, reporters were addressed by HRH Crown Prince Alexander II, HE Serbian Minister of Culture Dragan Kojadinovic, HE Ambassador of Italy in Belgrade Alessandro Merola, Mrs. Tatjana Cvjeticanin, director of the National Museum, Professor Alessandro Bianchi, ICR coordinator, Mrs. Ana Zambrano, head of Italian cooperation, Mr. Dragovir Acovic, member of the Crown Council, and Tatjana Bosnjak, coordinator for the National Museum.