Avenza, a parish attempts a miracle: bringing home a 1438 triptych that left the church centuries ago

A provincial parish, that of St. Peter the Apostle in Avenza (Municipality of Carrara), is attempting a miracle: to bring home a triptych from 1438, made for the house of worship but removed from its church centuries ago. The work, the Ringli Triptych (named after its patron, the mercenary captain Peter von Johanns Ringli, who served in the fortress of Avenza when, between 1437 and 1441, Francesco Sforza was commander of the Florentine Republic’s militia: Ringli, a Swiss mercenary, was one of his lieutenants on Apuan soil), probably left the church very early: according to historical reconstructions, the triptych would have left as early as the mid-15th century in the direction of Genoa (which at the time exercised its dominion over the Carraresi territory), and then faced several vicissitudes and transfers, even intercontinental ones, until, in 2018, it was purchased by the gallery owner and art historian Matteo Salamon of Milan. The work features, in its three compartments, St. Peter (in the center, titular saint of the church), St. Anthony Abbot, and St. Mary Magdalene (on either side, titulars of two hospitals that in ancient times were located on the section of the Via Francigena controlled by the castle of Avenza).

Salamon had the painting restored by restorer Loredana Gallo, had the three panels (which had been separated in the early 20th century to facilitate sale) reunited, and commissioned extensive studies of the work, attributed by Federico Zeri to the Master of St. Ivo: the reconnaissances, carried out by Angelo Tartuferi, Italy’s foremost expert on early 15th-century painting, and Annamaria Bernacchioni, confirmed the triptych’s provenance and attribution, and also made it possible to move forward in time the date of the possible disappearance of the Master of Sant’Ivo, who was thought to have disappeared in the 1520s. It is also a very important work because it was made with the “half gold ground” technique (an alloy of half gold and half silver, which is extremely rare), and the church in Avenza wants to return it to where it was in the 15th century.

And the return home of such an important work, after almost six centuries of absence, would be an event more unique than rare. Matteo Salamon, whom we caught up with in recent days, is convinced of this: “I think it is the first time that something like this has happened, that is, that an antiquarian finds himself with a work that is reconstituted in its entirety, and for which the provenance is ascertained in such a punctual and precise way. A painting that, moreover, came out of Italy in 1895, went around Germany, America, Germany again, England, until I bought it. And it’s also incredible that, besides being preserved well, it has been kept together.”

The parish priest of Avenza, Fr. Marino Navalesi, having learned that the triptych is in the possession of the Salamon Gallery, contacted the gallery owner to negotiate the transfer. And now, with offerings from the faithful and the support of local businesses, the parish is trying to raise the amount needed to bring the work home (160,000 euros). Reaching the goal is imminent but, Fr. Marino explained, contributions from individuals and businesses are still needed. “We’ve made the news in all the local newspapers, we’ve talked about it at Mass, I’ve gone to visit businesses in the area,” the priest explained. “Everyone will help us to reach the required amount, but it is necessary for the flow of offerings to continue.”

Fr. Marino also made an appeal to everyone, faithful and art lovers alike: “I am deeply confident that with everyone’s help and with a pinch of village pride, which the people of Aventis know well, we will quickly succeed in realizing this dream. The little of many will do much, and the right of others will do the rest.” To contribute, a sum, of any amount, can be made to the IBAN of the current account specifically opened at Banca Carige (Avenza agency): IT67 A 06175 24504 0000 82104580.

In the meantime, stresses Fr. Marino, the parish continues its charitable activities undaunted, with the same momentum as always, and the purchase of the work will not affect in any way the activities that the community of St. Peter’s Avenza carries out every day on behalf of the poor and needy. The Ringli Triptych will also be the subject of a lengthy in-depth article, edited by Ilaria Baratta, with excursus on the history of the painting and its connection to the church, and with interviews with Matteo Salamon and Marino Navalesi, which will be published in issue 3 of Finestre sull’Arte on paper, due out in September 2019(on sale by subscription only by August 18).

Pictured: Master of St. Ivo, St. Peter Enthroned between St. Anthony the Abbot and Mary Magdalene also known as the Ringli Triptych (1438; tempera on panel with a gold background of half, 133.8 x 149.2 cm)

Avenza, a parish attempts a miracle: bringing home a 1438 triptych that left the church centuries ago

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