In 1956, Giacometti was invited to participate in the 28th Venice Biennale. He created a group of plaster figures for the occasion, some of which were painted. As he was in a hurry, he developed a new working method, modelling a figure in clay which was then cast in plaster in successive stages that were subsequently reworked. The following year, the eight figures were cast in bronze. Once again pressed for time, he used the plaster sculptures, covered with shellac, then split, for the castings. After several months of restoration, with the exceptional support of the Hélène & Édouard Leclerc Fund, two of these Women of Venice have now been restored to their original state.