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Carolyn Johnson Helps Preserve Art at the Vatican for Future Generations
The Vatican Museums are home to approximately 70,000 works of art. While millions of visitors pass through every year, few know the amount of support needed to keep these priceless pieces safe from the passage of time. Carolyn Johnson saw this important initiative of preserving our faith and decided to take action. As co-chair of the Georgia Chapter of Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums, Carolyn works to promote, restore, and conserve the collections and buildings of the Holy See.
“If you watch a piece of art go through that transformation, it’s amazing. If you visited the Sistine Chapel before it was restored, it was very dark, very dingy. Now it’s bright and beautiful like it used to be.”
–Carolyn Johnson
Having called Atlanta home since childhood, Carolyn attended Holy Cross in Tucker, married her husband Neil at St. Jude, and is now a parishioner at Holy Spirit. After working as an executive in the packaging industry for 25 years, she wanted to take more time to give back.
During a trip to Rome, she and Neil were introduced to Father Mark Haydu, the International Director of Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums at the time. While touring the Vatican, Father Mark explained how, unlike other major museums, the Vatican Museums receive no tax revenue to sponsor the restoration of its treasures. It relies on the generosity of patrons to protect the tens of thousands of works.
“People don’t even realize the thousands of pieces of art that need to be restored. From mosaics to frescoes… it’s all the artwork, buildings, facilities that are within the Vatican Museum complex.” – Carolyn Johnson
A few years later, they were asked to serve as co-chairs for the Georgia Chapter of Patrons for the Arts in the Vatican Museums. By saying yes, Carolyn agreed to not only aid in the conservation of Vatican art, but also share its beauty, history, and spiritual impact with the local community. The Georgia Chapter is one of 16 in North America. Each chapter ‘adopts’ pieces in need of restoration and raises funds to preserve these historic works.
Having served as co-chair for eight years, Carolyn has helped restore Baroque monstrances and thuribles, ancient artifacts from Egypt, and even the Bramante Courtyard.
“I think our involvement with the Bramante Courtyard was so far one of my favorites…If you looked at it a few years ago, it was almost an orange color, just from the deterioration and rain and the elements. Now it’s back to its pure white glory. It’s amazing.” – Carolyn Johnson
Members also help with less glamorous but equally important projects, such as working to add air conditioning to the museum complex. For centuries, air flow for visitors has only been possible by opening windows. Yet temperature shifts and humidity can wreak havoc on centuries old structures and delicate artwork.
“The museum director, Barbara Jatta, said, ‘If we don’t do these [facilities updates], we will not be able to keep up with the restoration because this is ruining artwork.” –Carolyn Johnson
Along with raising thousands for restoration projects, the Georgia Chapter gives back to its members and the community at large. As an interfaith charitable group, all with a heart for art are welcome to join, and the membership fee is tax-deductible.
Carolyn has organized countless local gatherings for members and non-members alike, highlighting the spiritual and historical impact of the art in the Vatican. Guest speakers have discussed the Pieta, Michaelangelo’s life working on the Sistine Chapel, and the spiritual journey of the Catholic Church as seen through its art.
“It tells, from a spiritual standpoint, the history of the Church. Over time you can see through artwork the changes; when people got spiritually closer to God versus further away.” –Carolyn Johnson
Members even have the chance to journey together and visit the Vatican Museums, receive a private tour of the Sistine Chapel, and explore the restoration laboratories. A one-of-kind experience, many members come back wanting to do more to preserve these historic pieces and share their incredible beauty. For Carolyn, this is the impact she wishes to continue for years to come.
“Knowing that we are saving art that tells the history of the church [so that] future generations will always be able to see it, to me, that’s just priceless.” –Carolyn Johnson
To learn about upcoming events and how you can get involved with the Georgia Chapter of Patrons of the Arts at the Vatican Museums, click here.
