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Milan Cathedral Statue Finds New Life After Restoration
15 Feb
Summary
- A 15th-century statue is now on display at FNM headquarters.
- The restoration was part of Milan Duomo's 'Adopt a Statue' program.
- Donors fund statue restoration in exchange for temporary public display.
A 15th-century statue, the Bearded Saint with Book, has been restored and is now on display at Piazzale Cadorna behind a glass window at the headquarters of FNM, a transport company. This relocation follows its recent restoration under Milan's Duomo 'Adopt a Statue' program, initiated in 2020.
The program seeks donors, whether companies or individuals, to finance the restoration of statues. In return, these donors receive a loan agreement allowing for the occasional public exhibition of the restored artwork outside the Duomo. This initiative aims to bring valuable sculptures from storage back to public view, allowing them to continue recounting the history of the Duomo.
Construction of the Duomo began in 1386 and took over five centuries to complete. Its statues, carved by various artists across different periods, offer a historical timeline of evolving artistic styles. The Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo oversees the cathedral's conservation and initiated this program to fund the restoration of statues removed over time.
Other adopted sculptures include a 16th-century David, Samson and the Lion, and Saint Matthew the Apostle. The marble for these statues, like that of the Duomo itself, originates from the Candoglia quarries in Italy's Piedmont region. Restoration typically takes one to three months and requires authorization from Italy's cultural heritage authorities.
