European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 21, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sistine Chapel restoration Sheds new Light on Michelangelo by John Winn Miller associated press a painstaking restoration of the Vatican Sis inc Chi incl is dramatically changing the widely accepted View of Michelangelo style and method of but not without disappearing with the layers of centuries old grime arc the popular Conception of Michelangelo As a sculptor who Only knew How to use somber colors to form and who toiled for years on his Back to Complete the herculean the officials but the which began in 1980 and is expected to take 12 has drawn criticism from one group of american painters and at least one italian artist who claim thai the Renaissance frescoes arc being director of the he says the restoration work so far has radically changed everything once thought of the colors Are totally As an he Points to the cleaned lunettes above the windows that were once seen As As darkness of waiting for the coming of this darkness was simply a matter of he cleaning had begun in 1964 in the 1 St Century Chapel where Popes arc he after extensive it was decided in 1980 to tackle Michelangelo Buonarroti using the same method and cleaning solvent As was used in the the first which was completed last of involved the 14 arched panels or lunettes above the windows depicting old testament prophets and Heathen the next four years will be spent on the barrel vaulted ceiling with 300 figures from the Book of Gene compel Etc along with the lunettes Between 1508 and the last four years will be spent on Miche Langeloh judgment on the altar Wall which dates from Between 1536 and Mancinelli says who tried desperately to avoid the project because he considered himself a sculptor and not a worked at incredible Speed once he Over came several problems rooted in his at the he was Able to paint All the larger Hanife figures in each Lunette in Only three without the use of cartoons full size preliminary it was a monumental says adding that restorers have found bits of paint Brush left behind by Michelangelo in his new historical research in conjunction with the Resto ration also has put to rest the notion that Michelangelo painted while lying Flat on his As depicted in the Book and the agony and the he was Mancinelli the he resulted from a mistake by a historian of the time and because of a sketch Miche langelo made to show workers How not to build the ingenious Bridge like scaffolding with poles from the Walls instead of the floor for in the cleaning chief restorer Gianluigi Colalucci and two assistants apply a cleaning solvent called ab57 developed 20 years ago at ital is Central restoration Institute to a tiny Patch of it is left on for three then sponged off with distilled As they the restorers Are almost continually photographed and filmed by a special Crew from japans Nippon which paid million for exclusive rights to document the the restorers work on a covered platform similar to one designed by the dirt is removed one thin layer at a we never reach the surface of the Mancinelli we always leave a last Little film of dirt to protect the to be doubly sure that no paint is pails of the distilled water Are tested by the Vatican Mancinelli says the True colors had been hidden by centuries Worth of smoke from candles and probably in the 18th applied the glues to brighten the dirty frescoes and accentuate the curves which they did briefly before turning even Darker with dirt and he to the Amateur Eye the difference Between cleaned lunettes and the ceiling is the Bright Pur and greens Are electric and unlike the grim but powerful ceiling Mancinelli also was surprised to discover that on the lunettes Michelangelo did not do any retouching a meaning on the dry Wall after the Fresco and plaster had this is a controversial Frank Herbert an american Painter and spokes Man for the National society of mural says historical documents prove that like other Fresco used retouching a whose mural resurrection hangs above the main altar at new York cites Patricks claims the restorers Are removing the fragile a Secco paint which is not bedded in the Wall like the they Are cleaning it like a Mason his organization has asked Pope John Paul ii in an open letter to Stop the restoration until an International panel of experts can study the a photo True colors of Michelangelo sistine Chapel frescoes had been hidden by centuries of Alexander an ally of Mason and a former Art critic for time there losing an enor Mous amount of nuance and Eliot says he spent six weeks studying the Chapel closely during the filming of an a ctr documentary in who returned to sistine Chapel last claims the restorations has turned the characters into absolutely rubber limbs and Neon Bright wet suits surrounded by wide Black Colalucci responds that some especially the older would like to stick to the Black and White idea of the younger on the other seems much More interested and appreciative of this new ver Sion of Giulio Carlo considerate by Many Italy top Art and Alain head conservator at the Boston both said in interviews that an excellent Job was being done by the but Toti a Painter and director Romes Academy of Fine saying that he believes some a Secco paint is being he says the restoration based on what my eyes Tell subjectively has drastically changed the relationship Between shadows and Light and the frescoes have lost their dramatic a photo Page 14 the stars and stripes four years of work has restored semicircular series of frescoes by Michelangelo and portraits of 28 Popes along upper Walls of sistine May serious Street crime is rare in but watch out for purse when in beware of thieves by Paula Butturini United press International when Alessandro Bruni wants to slip behind the wheel of his new he unlocks the master burglar re moves the padlock from the heavy steel Chain hooking steering wheel to and inserts his portable tape deck into the gaping Hole in his its not that a is paranoid its that Romes thieves Are and police blame most of the crime in Rome on Petty thieves they say rarely get involved in serious Street crime assault and rape rare in Italy and even More unusual against random targets like the violent attacks that made world headlines during the terrorist troubled 70s virtually have but the cites legions of purse pickpockets and other Petty criminals change life in Small and big ways for residents and police officers near Piazza Venezia in the heart of the City look sympathetic but hardly surprised when a Young american woman complains her purse has just been yanked from her shoulder on a City which bus one policeman asks in a voice indicating Hes heard it All the number 62 or the 64 both ply the Busy tourist route Between the historic Center of the City and the Vatican and Are prey to gangs of experienced More than american tourists paid an unscheduled visit to the Pink consulate building on Romes posh via Veneto last year to replace stolen said Marilyn chief of consular most of them come in pretty Povenmire but after a few hours they Calm especially when they realize they can almost always get a new passport the same Day or in an hour or less if theres an emergency and they have to catch a Romes residents live armed against the Petty thief car radios and tape decks Are routinely fitted out with a special mount so they can be and the radios often come with a Holdup handle for easy carry pocketbooks tend to have unusually Long straps so women can Wear them Slung Bandolier style around the neck and across the Chest to discourage easy snatches from passing cars or household locks look like they belong on the Gold vaults a fort the Click of reinforced steel bolls falling into place with three to four turns of the key is As much a sound of Rome As the tinkle of water on Stone in the cites hundreds of Street the consulate used to coping with Large numbers of tourists who show up having lost their credit travellers checks and plane tickets has ready a detailed six Page handout explaining where and How to get help and which offices provide English speaking consular officials also hand out six major tips to Vic Tims and urge them to pass the precautions on to family and All identity and social Security Drivers keepsakes and anything else of Little or no monetary value in ones leave passports and valuables like plane eur ail credit cards and Cash in a hotel make a list of travellers Check serial numbers and never carry it in the same Wallet or briefcase As the checks the receipt for the Purchase of the usually needed to obtain should be kept in yet another if passports Are carry them apart from ones Wallet or stolen passports in Italy Are usually dumped into the trash and replacements Cost and hours of lost women carrying purses should carry them on the Side away from the Sling shoulder bags Over ones head and then hold the bag itself under ones if purse snatchers especially those operating from a car or let go of the purse to avoid being never leave baggage in an unguarded even for a few As locked cars Are easily and regularly broken Ever leave baggage in an unguarded car at night or at the the stars and stripes Page 15