The original environment

The place where the fresco is kept no longer has the original size and appearance. In addition, the use of the environment has also undergone changes over time, in parallel with the transformation of the Santa Caterina complex from a monastery to a Pio Conservatorio and finally to the headquarters of the Department and Library of Statistical Sciences of the university.

Considering the presence of the Last Supper in the central panel of the mural painting, it is likely that initially the place was used as a refectory of the monastery, a hypothesis that is confirmed by an appraisal and a nineteenth-century plan of the building. The environment maintained this function at least until the beginning of the twentieth century, as evidenced by a photograph of the time, where, however, the fresco is already hidden under a layer of plaster.

Plan of the rooms of Santa Caterina in a nineteenth-century survey (ASPd, Archivio Pivetta, b. 76, fasc. 1359) and today's equivalent Plan of the rooms of Santa Caterina in a nineteenth-century survey (ASPd, Archivio Pivetta, b. 76, fasc. 1359) and today's equivalent

caterina-0009 From Un'opera di redenzione, 1931

With the works of the 1930s, the purpose of the room changed, being used as a chapel of the Conservatorio. It was probably on this occasion, when it was decided to build a high tabernacle housing the statue of the Virgin above the altar table, that the central part of the fresco, at the time still hidden by the plaster, was damaged. In the wall thus rearranged a blind door was also made on the left, placed in symmetry with the real opening placed on the right.

The refectory is used as a chapel in the project for the arrangement of the Pio Conservatorio of Santa Caterina of 1930 The refectory is used as a chapel in the project for the arrangement of the Pio Conservatorio of Santa Caterina of 1930 (AGCPd, Amm.ne Pii Conservatori Santa Caterina, b. 955, c.e. 711/1930) and the present day equivalent

Prospects and vertical sections in the project for the arrangement of the Pio Conservatorio di Santa Caterina of 1930 Prospects and vertical sections in the project for the arrangement of the Pio Conservatorio di Santa Caterina of 1930 (AGCPd, Amm.ne Pii Conservatori Santa Caterina, b. 955, c.e. 711/1930)

The refectory transformed into a chapel From Un'opera di redenzione, 1931

About ten years later, the place was transformed again, becoming a recreation room with a stage and gym of the Conservatorio. Once the altar and the tabernacle were removed from the wall of the fresco and the side door was walled up, a central entrance was created, the one through which the room is still accessible today.

catasto 1940 Land registry of 1940 in which the environment is used as a gym and indoor recreation room, and today's equivalent

Ingresso The entrance to the gymnasium until 1989 (AGCPd, Edilizia privata, c.e. 1361/1989-IRPEA, Progetto di ristrutturazione dell'arch. Oscar Marchi)

The current entrance door to the Library office (nr. 1)
The current entrance door to the Library office (nr. 1)

 

The hall maintained this function until the building was granted to the university.
The work of adapting the structure to the needs of research and teaching involved a division of the room into three distinct spaces: a teaching room (nr. 3), a driveway (nr. 2) and an office connected to the library (nr. 1), where the restoration uncovered the fresco..

 

 

Project of restoration and restructuring of 1997 Project of restoration and restructuring of 1997 (AGCPd, Edilizia privata, c.e. 1844/1997-Università di Padova, Progetto di ristrutturazione dell'arch. Oscar Marchi)

Driveway (nr.2) Driveway (nr.2)

Classroom SC120 (nr. 3) Classroom SC120 (nr. 3)