A new way of enhancing artistic heritage that takes the Duomo outside the Duomo
The Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano is launching a new fundraising project, with the aim of raising awareness in the city regarding the needs and challenges of its building site – one as long as the “Fabrica del Domm” – through the enhancement of those architectural elements that have been removed from the Cathedral for conservation and safety reasons.
Statues and sculptures that fascinate and amaze and – as the poet Heinrich Heine would say – are still capable of whispering “ancient and secret stories” into the ears of those who contemplate them, stories about the Duomo and the city of which it is the symbol.
With ‘Adopt a Statue’, a new way to contribute to the support of the activities of the Duomo is born, breathing new life into some of these sculptures through a beneficial restoration.
As the first supporter of “Adopt a Statue”, the Veneranda Fabbrica has found in Banca Mediolanum an attentive and responsive partner, renewing a collaboration that began back in 2018. Indeed, after having joined the project “Adopt a Spire. Sculpt Your Name into History”, Banca Mediolanum confirms its commitment to art and to the city by joining the initiative as the lead partner: thanks to its support, it has been possible to restore the sculpture of the “Saint in a Short Tunic”, previously in deposit at the Stonemason’s Yard (Cantiere Marmisti), thereby ideally bringing the Duomo out of the Duomo.
Following the restoration work approved by the competent Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the Metropolitan City of Milan and conducted by the Veneranda Fabbrica with the collaboration of restorer Debora Melano, the statue has been on display since 12 December 2019, on temporary loan, in the Milanese setting of Palazzo Biandrà (Via Tommaso Grossi, 9), home of Mediolanum consultancy, where it will remain accessible and enjoyable for everyone for the duration of one year, with the possibility of an extension.
“With the fundraising campaign ‘Adopt a Statue’, the Veneranda Fabbrica confirms its commitment to enhancing the Cathedral’s artistic heritage through an innovative method which, as well as restoring beauty to the statuary present in our storage facilities, can guarantee new resources for the incessant restoration activities of the Cathedral’s ‘Major Sites’ (Grandi Cantieri). I would like to thank Banca Mediolanum and its President Ennio Doris for having wanted to accompany us in this challenge as the leader of a network of donors which, we hope, can be numerous and responsive to our appeal” are the words of Fedele Confalonieri, President of the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano.
“From a perspective of conserving the historical and artistic heritage of the Cathedral, I am pleased that it has been possible to identify a new way to enhance a part of the statuary removed from the Cathedral which, otherwise, would be destined to a natural decay in the Veneranda Fabbrica’s storage facilities. In respect of the indications of the Superintendency, with the figure of a short-term loan agreement, like an annual exhibition, we will also avoid the risk of a dispersion of such heritage” are the words of Monsignor Gianantonio Borgonovo, Archpriest of the Cathedral and Director of the Culture and Conservation Area of the Veneranda Fabbrica.
This is how the President and founder of Banca Mediolanum Ennio Doris expressed himself in merit of the initiative: “It is an important commitment to the enhancement of Milan’s artistic heritage, reflecting the attention and sensitivity towards the city of which my company carries the same name. The statue we have chosen, the Saint in a Short Tunic, looks far away in search of important answers. It represents the perfect synthesis of our way of working: a constant observation of the world that drives us every day to question ourselves on the best solutions to offer to clients in the management of savings, investments, loans and the protection of people and their families.”
The adopted statue
The work chosen by Banca Mediolanum is a statue denominated “Saint in a Short Tunic”, the author of which remains unknown. A long cloak, with its drapes, cinches the Saint’s left shoulder, falling to his feet. He looks to one side, his right hand on his hip in a proud and solemn attitude. The torso is leaned forward; this is because the statue was conceived to be viewed from below and at close range.
The face is slightly rotated, as if searching for someone’s gaze. Where is this someone? Where are we going? He seems to question himself… to each their own answer; certainly, in Holiness it is easier to welcome the divine and carry it within oneself, as a precious guide.
The sculpture comes from one of the walkways (andadore) of the Duomo (openings in the flying buttresses created to allow passage on the Terraces from one bay to another) and, specifically, from the space between spire G20, entitled to Saint Mario, and spire G34, dedicated instead to Saint Quirino. We are along the south-facing side of the Duomo, towards Palazzo Reale. The statues placed above all these passageways are characterized by reduced dimensions so that they can be placed to crown the same.
It is precisely thanks to the generous participation of all the Donors who have welcomed the Veneranda Fabbrica’s appeal that, in the last years, it has been possible to proceed with important restoration interventions to safeguard the Monument; and this is how we hope to proceed, restoring the Milan Duomo to the city, to all visitors and citizens in the maximum of its value and splendour, as a symbol of identity not only for a country, but as a heritage of the whole world.
Further Information:
Donations Office
Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano
Via Carlo Maria Martini, 1 – 20122 Milano
Freephone number: 800.528.477 (Italy only)