The recently restored statue of Aphrodite housed in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale (National Archeological Museum/the Museum) in Florence, Italy, was unveiled in a public celebration on September 11, 2018. Funded by Friends of Florence with a donation by Michael and Sandy Collins, the cleaning and restoration process revealed a surprising development. Long thought to be a representation of the Spartan queen Leda that had been marred with dirt and grime over centuries, it was discovered to be the Greek goddess Aphrodite sculpted in now immaculately white marble.

"It is a great pleasure to present this 'Rediscovered Aphrodite'," said Simonetta Brandolini d'Adda, President of Friends of Florence. "In addition to the restoration, the project-originally a candidate in the first edition of the Friends of Florence Award Grant at the Florence Art and Restoration Fair in 2012-provided the unique opportunity to study the work in depth. The process was designed to allow the public to observe the restoration in an 'open work site' thanks to the kind cooperation of Mario Iozzo, director of the Museum, his staff, and restorer Daniela Manna who previously has worked on other important Friends of Florence projects.