Lecture on the Conservation of Wall Paintings in the Ordination Hall of Wat Ratchathiwat Ratchaworawihan, Bangkok
A Collaborative Project between World Monuments Fund (WMF) and the Fine Arts Department of Thailand
Bangkok: A Capital of Italian Creativity This collaborative project beautifully highlights Bangkok as a true “Capital of Italian Creativity.” The wall paintings at Wat Ratchathiwat are a historic masterpiece by the Italian painter Carlo Rigoli, who brilliantly blended Western painting techniques and three-dimensional perspective with traditional Thai narratives. Today, the preservation of this shared cultural heritage is led by Italian-trained conservation experts in close collaboration with Thai local expers. This event not only celebrates a century-old artistic dialogue but also demonstrates how Italian expertise and creative spirit continue to live, adapt, and inspire within the cultural heart of Thailand.
Program Schedule
26 June 2026
Venue: Trang Hotel Bangkok, Bang Khun Phrom, Wisut Kasat Road, Bang Khun Phrom Subdistrict, Bangkok (near Rama VIII Bridge)
Morning Session
09:00–09:30
Opening Ceremony
09:30–10:45
Lecture: “Fresco Painting: History, Conservation, and Relevant Contexts for the
Murals of Wat Ratchathiwat”
Speaker: Ms. Urszula Strugala, Conservation Specialist, World Monuments Fund
10:45–11:00
Coffee Break
11:00–12:00
Lecture: “The Conservation of the Wall Paintings of Wat Ratchathiwat
Ratchaworawihan, Bangkok”
Speaker: Mr. Alongkorn Thiamchan, Senior Artistic Conservation Technician, Fine Arts
Department
12:00–13:00
Lunch Break
Afternoon Session
14:00–16:00
On-site Visit and Discussion at the Ordination Hall of Wat Ratchathiwat Ratchaworawihan
Participants will meet at the ordination hall to jointly discuss potential conservation
approaches for the wall paintings.
Useful information
*Wat Rachathiwat is a historic royal temple located along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. Its name means “the temple that is the residence of the King.” It holds great historical importance as the birthplace of the “Dhammayuttika Nikaya” Buddhist monastic order in Thailand. The temple was restored by several Thai kings (Rama I–IV); although it was severely damaged during World War II, it was completely rebuilt in 1960. Today, it stands as a beautiful and welcoming historical landmark for international visitors.
*Carlo Rigoli (born 1883) was an Italian painter who traveled to serve the Siamese royal court in 1910 alongside Galileo Chini. Following the royal initiative of King Rama V, they were commissioned to paint the grand murals on the dome ceiling of the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall. Rigoli became a prominent court painter renowned for his exceptional ability to blend Eastern narratives with Western artistic techniques. His masterpieces include the three-dimensional murals of the Vessantara Jataka at Wat Rachathiwat—celebrated for their realistic use of light, shadow, and human anatomy—as well as the interior decorations at the Boromphiman Throne Hall and Baan Phibuntham. He also created numerous oil portraits of King Rama V, King Rama VI, and members of the royal family. In recognition of his meritorious service, he was awarded the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant. Rigoli eventually returned to Italy, where he continued his artistic life until his passing in 1964, leaving behind a precious artistic heritage that serves as an enduring inspiration for generations of Thai artists.
