The two ancient bronzes of Giuseppe Romagnoli will return to adorn the facade of Palazzo d’Accursio on October 4, on the occasion of the feast of the Patron of Bologna, thanks to the generosity of the entrepreneur Francesco Amante …
“We thank Francesco Amante for this important initiative – said the Councilor for Culture Matteo Lepore – to whom, also for this gesture, the Mayor Virginio Merola has decided to confer the Silver Turrita.We have discussed at length about the relocation of this ‘work dedicated to King Umberto I but we think that history must be remembered, even more at a time like this when the concept of’ love of country ‘is often upset: a sense that for us remains that of this bronze, in its meaning renaissance, as a value shared by all citizens, also, as in this case, through art.In this direction also goes the story that we recently wanted to make of the 3000 years of history of Piazza Maggiore, a square that has developed its own on the idea of a public space, shared and usable by all citizens “.
The two bronzes, which represent the Amor Patrio and the Military Value, were part of the memorial monument to King Umberto I, inaugurated in 1909, originally placed on the facade of Palazzo D’Accursio in Piazza Maggiore to pay tribute to the “Good King” Umberto I, considered one of the greatest supporters of freedom and democratic ideals, had in fact visited the city on the occasion of liberation from the Austrians and who was, brutally, murdered at Monza in 1900.
On December 21, 1943, the marble parts of the monument were destroyed by the “republicans” according to the order of the Republic of Salò in which “all the headings, indications or signs, anyway referring to the former ruling house or its members must be be eliminated or replaced with others of a republican nature “.
The two surviving bronzes were placed first in the Villa delle Rose in 1945 and then in a courtyard of the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna.
Thanks to the financial contribution of Francesco Amante, the two bronzes will be relocated on the facade of Palazzo d’Accursio next to the main entrance, as well as the marble plaque that will be entirely rebuilt.
Given the impossibility of moving the bronzes because of their considerable size, to design the restoration was made, at first, a virtual cast of the statues, using an innovative technique, the main touches will be those of cleaning, washing and coloring , because, due to the oxidation process, the statues now appear darker. The restoration operations will be entrusted to the Laonardo company, which has already taken care of the restoration of the Fontana del Nettuno, while the relocation and anchoring will be carried out by Zecchini Group Studio.
