Brescia, the Winged Victory placed in the renovated Capitolium

Winged Victory, among the most extraordinary bronze statues from the Roman era, has been placed in Brescia’s new Capitolium, in the eastern cell. The large bronze statue, a symbol of the city of Brescia, beloved by Giosuè Carducci who celebrated it in his ode Alla Vittoria, admired by Gabriele d’Annunzio and Napoleon III who wanted a copy, is one of the most important Roman works in terms of composition, material and preservation and is one of the few Roman bronzes from excavations that have come down to us. After a two-year restoration conducted by the Opificio delle Pietre Dure of Florence, sponsored by the Municipality of Brescia, the Brescia Musei Foundation, the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio for the Provinces of Bergamo and Brescia, with the support of the Lombardy Region and under the patronage of theAteneo di Brescia, Accademia di Scienze Lettere ed Arti and the Ordine degli Architetti, Pianificatori, Paesaggisti e Conservatori della Provincia di Brescia, the famous sculpture has found its permanent home in the renovated museum layout designed by Spanish architect Juan Navarro Baldeweg. The complex restoration and research operation involved about thirty professionals who, each with his or her own specialization, were engaged in the numerous activities of knowledge and conservation of the bronze.

The placement of the bronze masterpiece is intended to enhance the archaeological area Brixia - Archaeological Park of Roman Brescia in a setting designed to enhance the material and formal characteristics of the statue and to enhance the complex restoration work. New lighting enhances the architecture in full respect of the archaeological values.

Juan Navarro Baldeweg’sunprecedented installation stands at the forefront of international museography: a complex project to be considered as a total work in which respect for conservation, lighting and technological criteria is combined with care for materials. For example, the room’s Venetian terrazzo floor, whose stony character will be consistent with traditional Roman floors, such as that of the portico of the nearby late Republican sanctuary. A table-window next to the entrance will showcase some bronze frames found together with the Victory in 1826. Other frame fragments will be arranged on the western wall to suggest the virtual spatiality typical of Roman-era decoration. The safety and stability of the statue, soaring on a cylindrical pedestal of Botticino stone, is also ensured by a specially designed earthquake-proof platform.

A rich schedule of exhibition initiatives has been planned at the Santa Giulia Museum and Capitolium to celebrate the return of the Winged Victory to the city.

The project benefited from the involvement of city and national excellences, such as the Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio for the Provinces of Bergamo and Brescia, the Opificio delle Pietre Dure of Florence, the Project Unit for the completion of the Pinacoteca, redevelopment Castle and Monumental Heritage of the Municipality of Brescia, the A2A Group, and was been made possible thanks to the contribution of companies of excellence in their respective fields and the sensitivity as well as the generous participation of some companies that, through the Art Bonus system, donated funds for the restoration of the statue: Antares Vision, Camozzi Group, Saottini Group, Ori Martin, Tamburini, Ubi Banca which is part of IntesaSanpaolo Group, Ubi-Fondazione CAB, Lions Club Brescia Host and Valentina Cantoni.

The initiative is supported by Fondazione Brescia Musei’ innovative public-private pact Alleanza per la Cultura, which supports the enhancement and promotion of the city’s artistic heritage and major cultural events.

Ph.Credit Alessandra Chemollo

Brescia, the Winged Victory placed in the renovated Capitolium

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