After years of waiting and delicate restoration work, 33 precious works of art will finally return to their places of origin in the provinces of Ascoli Piceno, Fermo and Macerata. The redelivery, the result of collaboration between the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio of Ascoli Piceno, Fermo and Macerata and theIstituto Centrale per il Restauro (ICR), will take place between Jan. 31 and Feb. 7.
The works, rescued from the rubble after the devastating 2016 earthquake and restored at the Laboratory of the Mole Vanvitelliana in Ancona, will be returned to the Diocese of Ascoli Piceno, the Municipality of Sarnano, the Archiepiscopal Curia of Camerino and San Severino, and the Benedictine Sisters of the San Giacomo Monastery in San Ginesio. A long-awaited event of great symbolic value, marking an important step in the cultural reconstruction of the earthquake-affected areas.
Among the most significant works that will become usable again are the Compianto Polyptych, a splendid panel painting by Vincenzo Pagani dated 1529, and the oil on canvas painting by Pietro Procaccini, depicting St. Francis outlining the coat of arms of the Municipality of Sarnano in the figure of a seraphim. Both works, recovered in the weeks immediately following the earthquake, will once again be part of the Sarnano Art Gallery’s collection, giving back to citizens and visitors an important piece of their cultural identity.
Another particularly important recovery is that of the 12th-13th century Astylar Cross from Pescara del Tronto (Arquata del Tronto), belonging to the Bishop’s Curia of Ascoli Piceno. The precious artifact, saved before the collapse of the church of Santa Croce, represents one of the oldest testimonies of sacred art in the area.
“A silent, but constant and accurate work that of the Superintendency of Ascoli Piceno, Fermo and Macerata, which in the last 5 years has already restored and redelivered many other works to the communities by involving local restorers.”, comments the superintendent, architect Giovanni Issini “In the last year, the synergy with the ICR has allowed a qualitative leap forward, thanks to the working group active at the Restoration Laboratory/Depot located at the Mole Vanvitelliana. The goal is to restore and relocate in their places of origin works of extraordinary value, to which the communities are very attached, thus supporting the process of rebirth of the territories affected by the seismic events.”
The rescue and restoration of these works were made possible thanks to the Restoration and Storage Laboratory at the Mole Vanvitelliana in Ancona, an initiative supported by the Ministry of Culture and carried out in spaces made available by the City of Ancona.
The laboratory, scientifically directed by theCentral Institute for Restoration (ICR) in Rome, houses more than 1,500 works from churches, picture galleries and other public buildings in the three provinces of the Marche region most affected by the 2016 earthquake. Each piece has been carefully surveyed, catalogued and restored using state-of-the-art techniques.
Coordinating the work, under the supervision of the Superintendency, is a team of experts led by Francesca Capanna, project manager, and Angelandreina Rorro, director of the ICR. Also crucial was the role of Pierluigi Moriconi, head of the Restoration Laboratory/Depot, who carefully followed each phase of the recovery.
“Great satisfaction with the activities taking place at the laboratory of the Mole Vanvitelliana in Ancona, where the ICR, engaged there since 2016, can now give new energy with the funding received from the Ministry of Culture,” says ICR Director, Architect Luigi Oliva. “The quality of the work done, from a technical and professional point of view, and the climate of full cooperation existing between professional restorers, the staff of theICR and the Superintendence of Ascoli Piceno, Fermo and Maceratafa fully consider the Mole of Ancona a new production hub of excellence for the Institute, alongside the main office at the San Michele in Rome, the ’Restauro aperto’ office in the former church of Santa Marta at the Collegio Romano and the SAF office in Matera.”
The return of the works to their places of origin is not only a restoration and conservation operation, but also takes on a strong symbolic value for the communities affected by the earthquake. In addition to being a building block in the material reconstruction of the area, the return of these masterpieces marks a cultural rebirth, giving back to the citizens a link with their history and identity.
The return of these 33 works is but a first step: many others are still waiting to be restored and returned to their original contexts. But with the work of experts and the support of institutions, the artistic heritage of the Marche region wounded by the 2016 earthquake is slowly shining again.
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A treasure rediscovered: 33 restored works return to Marche region after earthquake |
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