Four important paintings restored following a public call for proposals, with financial support from the Campania Region – Directorate General for Cultural Policies and Tourism – Operational Management Unit for the Promotion and Enhancement of Museums and Libraries, thanks to projects submitted by the Museum's Management, have been unveiled. These four large-format oil on canvas works, created by prominent artists active in Naples and its province between the 17th and 18th centuries, have been restored and are on display to the public in recent months in the Correale Museum: "The Way to Calvary" – 18th century, by Giuseppe Bonito; "Flowers with Jug and Copper Basin" – 17th century, by Andrea Belvedere; "Joseph's Dream" – 17th/18th century, by Giacomo del Po; and "The Pietà" – 17th century, by Andrea Vaccaro.
The paintings were identified and chosen for their precarious state of conservation, both structurally and aesthetically, and carried out by restorers Alessandra Cacace and Andrea Porzio, under the High Supervision of the SABAP Superintendency of Naples. "We are particularly pleased with this synergy between the Campania Region, the Superintendency and the Board of Directors, which has allowed the restoration of these four valuable and large-sized works to be carried out in a short time," said Regional Director Anita Florio. "It is an honor for Sorrento and for the Province of Naples to have such an important museum," said Superintendent Giovanni Barrella, presenting the works. "The commitment of the Superintendency was to support the Region in this restoration project of representative works from the 17th and 18th centuries, a time when Naples was the capital, competing with London and Paris also in the arts."
“The usability of the works, also through the participation of the visitor during the restoration phase, is a moment of strong characterization and innovation of our Museum” added the director Filippo Merola speaking of the visible restorations that can be admired by visiting the Correale rooms. “We have given priority to the restoration of these works that we present today and for which we have contributed 40% economically – specified the president Gaetano Mauro – but in 2020 we will certainly start with 8 new restorations allowed by the generosity of small and large entrepreneurs, associations, but also by large entities such as TUI, the largest international tour operator, who have joined the “Adotta un'Opera” project, launched just over a year ago. In the next few years we estimate to complete 26 restorations, thus recovering part of the artistic heritage of our beautiful museum”. “A century of artistic and social revolutions are represented by these four works recovered thanks to the contribution of the Region and which enrich the collection of the Correale Museum, works that generate belonging to the territory and to our radical culture”, concluded Councilor Paolo Jorio. At the end of the presentation, the commemorative plaque dedicated to the Benemeriti who 100 years ago contributed to the opening of the Sorrento museum from a private residence was unveiled. In the Resolutions of 1923-1924, the board of directors of the time committed to remembering those who in those years donated at least 1000 lire to the Correale Museum. The 15 names also photograph the historical context, a list among which it is hoped that someone today can recognize the name and work of their ancestors and add, in doing so, further pieces of history, personal and collective: Princess Angelica dei Medici, Marquis Francesco Cavaselice, Marquise Luisa De Medici, Municipality of Sorrento, Banca Generale della Penisola Sorrentina, Comm. Mariano Vervena, Grand Officer Tommaso Astarita, Knight Officer Antonino Cariello, Comm. Luigi Cariello, Prince Stefano Colonna, Duke Carlo Giovene Di Girasole, Knight Mario Astarita, Knight Silvio Salvatore Gargiulo, Knight Onorato Fiorentino and Nob. Alberto Martini.
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