“It was very cost-effective,” comments member Peter Norton, a former software publisher. “We could hardly believe how changed the paintings were from our last visit.” The paintings—which originally had been dark, dirty and in danger of falling apart—now hang as a suite, for the first time, in a single room, sparkling with the clear and vibrant colors that the artist originally intended. “And for us, for this relatively small amount of money, we were not only able to learn a great deal about the culture but also get our feet wet with the Lobkowiczes. This was such a successful experience that I’m sure we will be discussing future projects with them at our next meeting.”

In fact, before we leave, the Lobkowiczes do indeed introduce us to many other projects in need of preservation and conservation, including an 18th-century Asian-style screen and a collection of handmade rifles. These and more will be discussed and decided upon by the group at their next annual meeting. The group has just made a deal to partner with the World Monuments Fund (www.wmf.org) to help restore two villages, one in Yunnan, China, and the other, a Shaker village in Lebanon, New York. “We like being involved personally,” Booth says. “We like working with people and we like going out to meet them and visit the projects. So who knows? We may be headed to China soon.”

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Elizabeth Helman Minchilli is Art & Antiques’ Rome correspondent.

To find out more about the Friends of Heritage Preservation, contact fo.hp@verizon.net