Vatican Museums are now being headed by an individual who was raised amidst the art sector.
New Director of Vatican Museums Emphasizes Accessibility and Preservation of Art
Barbara Jatta, the first woman to hold the position of director of the Vatican museums, is making waves in her new role. With a passion for art that runs deep, Jatta is dedicated to making the museums more accessible to the public while ensuring their preservation.
Jatta, who has been working within the Vatican walls since 1996, leading the prints section of the Vatican Library, grew up surrounded by art and museums. Her family is heavily involved in the art world, with her mother and sister being restorers, her grandmother a painter, and her grandfather an architect. It's no surprise then, that Jatta feels privileged to work with what she loves and considers her work to be in the best place possible.
One of Jatta's main challenges in her new position is bringing harmony to the museums. The Vatican museums are not just one museum but many joined together, including an archeology museum, a prints section, and an ethnological museum. Each has its unique aspects, such as the ethnological museum, which preserves witnesses of faith, with over 80,000 pieces, from different continents, and is comprised of pieces that were given as gifts to the popes, especially Pius XI.
Jatta wants visitors to feel privileged as well, and to understand that the museum staff works for a mission rather than just a job. In 2016, six million people visited the Vatican museums, and the number is predicted to be even greater in 2017, with an increase of 18,000 people visiting the museums in January and February of 2017 compared to previous years.
To expand accessibility, the Vatican museums aim to make their extensive collections more available, both online and for in-person visitors. The museums recently launched an updated website that is more user-friendly and includes an 'Explore' section. Jatta's idea in leading the museums is to emphasize the link between beauty and art in connecting people.
Pope Francis, who is very interested in art and has spoken about it often, has supported Jatta's efforts. He brought homeless people to visit the Sistine Chapel because he thought they would never have the opportunity to see it. Jatta met Pope Francis while in her former job and presented him with a work of art for the Jubilee of Mercy.
Jatta follows in the footsteps of Antonio Paolucci, who served as director of the Vatican Museums before her. Another challenge for Jatta is balancing the preservation of the museum's art with making it accessible to the public. The Vatican museums have a very important program for preservation of the entire spaces of the museum, which costs a lot in effort and money.
In conclusion, Barbara Jatta is working tirelessly to make the Vatican museums more accessible while preserving their beauty for future generations. Her passion for art and dedication to her mission make her a perfect fit for the role of director of the Vatican museums.
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