The Restoration Project of the Lamentation of Saint Anne dei Lombardi Unveiled

On Friday, April 12th at 12:00 PM, the Church of Saint Anne dei Lombardi will present to the city the restoration project and the start of the worksite for the Lamentation of Saint Anne dei Lombardi. Speaking at the presentation will be the general director of archaeology, fine arts, and landscape at the MiC Luigi La Rocca, officials from the superintendence of archaeology, fine arts, and landscape for the Municipality of Naples, Rosalia D’Apice, Alessio Cuccaro, Annunziata D’Alconzo, Elisa Di Crescenzo; the president of Friends of Naples Alberto Sifola, and the president Mario Sicignano of ParteNeapolis Social Cooperative. The event aims to present and spread the knowledge of a unique and extraordinary sculptural work of the city of Naples, with the goal of involving a wider audience of supporters eager to participate in its complete recovery. For the restoration, more than 100,000 euros are needed, part of which has already been collected with the involvement of the patrons of the Friends of Naples Association thanks to which the work will be started: Banca di Credito Popolare, Fondazione Emiddio Mele, Orazio and Sveva de Bernardo, and Rossopomodoro. There is still the possibility to "adopt" some of the statues that make up the work - each for a value of about 15,000 euros - or contribute with a liberal donation to Friends of Naples. The Lamentation over the Dead Christ is a terracotta sculptural group by Guido Mazzoni, dating back to 1492, an undisputed masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture. It is preserved at the Monumental Complex of Saint Anne dei Lombardi in Naples, managed by the social cooperative ParteNeapolis. The work is composed of seven life-size figures arranged around Christ laid on the ground. Some of the Aragonese royals, very likely at their request, appear in the guise of the characters in the group; in particular, Alfonso II, son of Ferdinand I, is depicted in the guise of Joseph of Arimathea. Extremely skilled in working with terracotta, Mazzoni is known for the extreme realistic effect with which he reproduces each figure and the details that characterize it. Incredibly evocative is the rendering of the expressions of the faces, depicted in a moment of intimate suffering among screams of pain, fainting, and furrowed brows, in an attempt to hold back tears. The intervention, curated by Dafne Restauri, and with the support of Coop4Art and Officina dei Talenti, consists of various actions, from the conservative restoration of the sculptural group to the insertion of anti-seismic bases as well as the realization of a new lighting system. The project was drafted in agreement with the Superintendence of Archaeology Fine Arts and Landscape for the Municipality of Naples which will constantly follow the restoration works of the work. A valid example of synergy between the Friends of Naples Association, private individuals, the property Archconfraternity of Saint Anne and San Carlo Borromeo dei Lombardi, and the social cooperative ParteNeapolis. The latter, moreover, thanks to the PNRR funds, will also carry out a project to eliminate architectural barriers. ParteNeapolis is in fact engaged in the Open heART Museum project, financed by the Ministry of Culture, which aims to break down physical, cognitive, and sensory barriers of the Complex to allow all people to experience the beauty of the Sant'Anna dei Lombardi Museum, regardless of their physical, sensory, intellectual, demographic, cultural, linguistic, and religious characteristics. In this context, the creation of an innovative multisensory enhancement path for the Lamentation is included. The restoration works will presumably continue until next fall and will not limit in any way the use and visits in the monumental complex but, on the contrary, will enhance the asset, making it accessible, in complete safety: it will in fact become a restoration worksite open to the public.