History
The Michigan Chapter was founded in 1999 by business leader and philanthropist, Mr. Frank Stella. Mr. Stella was a friend of Ambassador William A. Wilson, who was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1984 as the first American ambassador to the Vatican. Mr. Wilson established the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums in 1993 to restore and maintain the Vatican art collection.
Mr. Wilson encouraged his friend Frank Stella to found a Michigan Chapter. The original board of directors included Frank Stella, Mary Lussier, Tarik Daoud and Jennifer Nassar. Soon an enthusiastic group of Patrons joined them. The Michigan Chapter adopted Boticelli’s Sistine Chapel fresco, The Events in the Life of Moses, as its first restoration project.
Since that time the Michigan Chapter has gone on to assist in the establishment of several other chapters, including the Northwest Chapter and the North Dakota Chapter. In the last 20-plus years, the Michigan Chapter has raised more than $4,000,000 and restored over 20 works of art in the Vatican Museums. Some of the more recent projects include:
- Raphael’s Coronation of the Virgin, the Oddi Altarpiece
- Raphael’s tapestry, the Blinding of Elymas; funded in part by the Stange Foundation
- The Candlesticks on the Pope’s altar in the Pauline Chapel in the Apostolic Palace, his private chapel
- The San Damaso Courtyard Fountain
- The Borgia Apartments by artist Pinturicchio
- Madonna & Child with St. Jerome and St. John the Baptist, funded by the Stange Trust, David Stone, Trustee
- A Chinese Embroidered Silk Tapestry
- Ten Beautifully Decorated Glasses funded by Dr. Miguel and Irene Lis-Planells
- Constantine Monogram by Michael Marz & Beth Moore
Currently, the chapter is restoring the Raphael designed tapestry, The Adoration of the Magi. This restoration is expected to take five years. Read about it in our Restorations section. Donations are welcome!