Restoration of Bernini statue of King Philip IV of Spain EMBARGOED to 1600 GMT

(26 Nov 2008) SHOTLIST
1. Tilt down wide exterior of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
2. Medium shot of statue of the Virgin Mary
3. Mid of entrance to building, fountain in foreground
4. Pull focus shot to Bernini's bronze statue of king Philip IV of Spain
5. Pan across marble floor to wide restored statue
6. Low angle pan across statue
7. Various of statue of Philip IV
8. Close up of Philip IV's hand
9. Close up foot
10. Close up of head
11. Mid shot statue
12. SOUNDBITE: (Italian) Sante Guido, head restorer of the Bernini's bronze statue of King Philip IV of Spain:
"The figure of Philip IV of Spain is an important statue. It is an important statue for the history of the Basilica, and also for the relationship with the royal family of Spain."
13. Focus out statue
14. SOUNDBITE: (Italian) Sante Guido head restorer of Bernini's bronze statue of King Philip IV of Spain:
" The Basilica and its religious community thank King Philip by asking the best Baroque living artist to execute this statue of the Spanish king."
15. Close up of Philip IV's head
16. Zoom in on detail on statue
STORYLINE
Italian restorers said Wednesday they used scalpels to remove a coat of paint as they cleaned a majestic statue from centuries of corrosion and pollution.
The statue of the 17th-century King Philip IV of Spain by 17th century Roman sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini stands in the portico at the entrance of the St. Mary Major basilica in Rome.
It was kept under wraps for three and half months as the Vatican Museums undertook the first major cleanup of the work.
Restorer Tuccio Sante Guido said he used a scalpel to slowly remove the layer of dark paint, most likely added in the 1900s as a means of protecting the statue, without damaging the work.
Because of its positioning in the portico, the 3-metre (10-feet) tall bronze statue...

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork