The Sarcophagus of the Spouses, a terracotta masterpiece from the 6th c. BC and one of the most iconic works of Etruscan art, is currently undergoing a major restoration — and visitors can watch the process live. This remarkable piece is the crown jewel of the National Etruscan Museum at Villa Giulia in Rome.

The sarcophagus is a monumental funerary urn, composed of a lower section shaped like a kline and an upper part depicting a married couple reclining at a banquet. The couple forms the lid of the urn, while the lower part once held the ashes of the deceased. Their serene, archaic smiles, the closeness of their bodies, and their affectionate embrace bear witness of the deep emotional bond they shared — a reflection of how Etruscan women could choose their partners, and love matches were not uncommon. It also showcases the artistry and sophistication of Etruscan ceramics.

When it was first discovered on April 9, 1881, in the Banditaccia necropolis of Cerveteri, the sarcophagus was not recognized as such. It appeared to be nothing more than a heap of over 400 terracotta fragments unearthed on the estate of Prince Francesco Ruspoli. But archaeologist Felice Barnabei, who later founded the Villa Giulia Museum, noticed a female head among the shards and realized their importance. Having grown up working in his father’s workshop, Barnabei had a trained eye for ceramics. He deduced that all the pieces came from the same kiln and were once part of a single, large piece — one too massive to be fired in one piece.

The only similar artifact known at the time was another sarcophagus of spouses found in 1854 by the Marquis Campana and sold to Napoleon III who bought it along with another 10,000 works in 1861; it is now part of the Louvre collections. When Barnabei recognized part of a male and a female head among the fragments, he suspected he had found a second example and was determined to acquire it for Rome’s new Etruscan museum. However, the director of the Archaeological Museum of Etruria in Florence was also vying for the fragments. After a 12-year struggle, Barnabei secured the sarcophagus in 1893 by offering 4,000 lire — a sum that convinced Prince Ruspoli to cede the treasure to the Villa Giulia museum.

The fragments were painstakingly reassembled, and the completed sarcophagus became the centerpiece of the museum’s collection. A previous conservation effort took place 50 years ago. The current project will delve deeper, combining conservation with research. Advanced technologies will be used to study the structure in detail, including laser scanning to produce a 3D model and the creation of plaster casts for each section. A new, non-invasive support system is also being developed, replacing corroding metal clamps with strong, clean carbon fiber alternatives.

The restoration has already begun. Conservators are currently cleaning the section that includes the legs and feet of the reclining couple — her feet delicately resting in pointed shoes, while his are bare — using cotton swabs, water, and gentle solvents to remove the old, darkened varnish that coats the terracotta.

The public is invited to witness the restoration process twice a week, every Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.