Scrovegni chapel lightning cover-up saga

(by John Phillips) (ANSA) Rome, August 28 - The disclosure that lightning struck the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua three weeks ago sent shock waves through the art world though its famed frescoes painted by Giotto evidently were unharmed.
    The bolt of lightning struck the facade of the chapel Aug.9, the mayor of Padua, Massimo Bitonci, confirmed, after the incident was disclosed by a local cultural association, the 'Amissi del Piovego'.
    The cross perched atop the chapel was seriously damaged and has been removed while the electrical system including lights, security alarms and humidity control were knocked out temporarily by a short circuit following the bolt's hit.
    Padua's Alderman for monumental building, Fabrizio Boron, insisted that no major damage to the structure of the building had resulted, however.
    "I am not aware of damage to the facade except for perhaps things that already needed maintaining and that had already deteriorated," he said, "certainly there was no damage about which to be concerned".
    Nevertheless Giotto expert Prof. Giuliano Pisani, a former alderman for Cultural heritage in Padua, was incandescent over the apparent cover-up of the affair.
    "It is absolutely scandalous that we only learned about this collapse from a citizens' association and not from the town hall," he fulminated. Bitonci said that assessments still are being done of the extent of the damage and cost of repairs.
    He dismissed the criticism over the failure to publicise the act of God.
    "The city government, the alderman and the mayor were alerted immediately about this fact but one was waiting for an expert examination by the specialized firm before giving out the news," he said. Stone from the façade of the chapel was reportedly partially damaged and an iron cross - which Pisani said dates from the chapel's earliest days - was removed after it was in danger of falling from the damaged façade.
    The chapel, which was commissioned by banker Enrico Scrovegni, contains two very large fresco cycles covering three walls from floor to ceiling.
    These depict the Life of Christ and the Life of the Virgin and are considered to be among the most important masterpieces of Western art. The site has also been known as the Arena Chapel because it was constructed by Scrovegni on land that was adjacent to a historic Roman arena.
    The chapel has been deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site and in 2002, underwent extensive renovations.