Milan’s iconic Duomo’s ‘Adopt a Statue’ program to restore centuries-old marble

MILAN (AP) — A 15th-century statue that once stood outside Milan’s iconic Duomo has found a new home.

The Bearded Saint with Book was recently restored under the “Adopt a Statue” program launched in 2020 by the century-old organization that oversees the cathedral’s conservation. Until February 13, it is on display in Piazzale Cadorna, behind a glass window at the headquarters of the Lombardy-based transport company, FNM.

The program recruits donors – either companies or individuals – to fund the restoration of the statue under a loan agreement that allows it to be occasionally displayed outside the Duomo.

“The uniqueness of this project is that the sculptures that remain in our depository are restored and returned to their original beauty,” said Alyssa Mantia, the program’s project manager, in an interview with The Associated Press. “This way, they can continue to tell the story of the Duomo even in places far away from the monument.”

These contracts are in some cases awarded for an initial period of one year and may be renewed. The initiative follows previous fundraising campaigns in which donors could adopt gargoyles or spires in exchange for inclusion in the Duomo’s donor register, where contributors’ names are recorded as part of the cathedral’s long history of support.

From storage to public display

Construction of the Duomo began in 1386, under the rule of the then Lord of Milan, Gian Gallozzo Visconti, with the assistance of the city’s archbishop. The cathedral was built on the site of two pre-existing basilicas and took more than five centuries to complete. One of its bronze doors was not installed until 1965.

As construction spanned centuries, the Duomo’s statues were painted by artists from different regions and periods, creating a monument that reads like a timeline of evolving artistic styles.

The Veneranda Fabrica del Duomo, which oversees the cathedral’s conservation, has sought funding to restore statues that have been removed for maintenance or security reasons over the centuries.

“Culture can save the world,” said Andrea Gibelli, president of the FNM, at a press conference on February 13 to mark the unveiling of the Bearded Saint With book. “We want to spread the cultural heritage that we are lucky enough to have, which are often overlooked or not fully appreciated.”

Other sculptures adopted under the program by various sponsors include 16th-century depictions of David, Samson and the Lion, and a statue of St. Matthew the Apostle.

While the number of statues adopted has not been disclosed and not all are displayed in public spaces, Mantia said his organization has selected about 30 statues as worthy of restoration. Each case must be authorized by Italy’s cultural heritage authorities, as the process includes a formal loan agreement subject to conservation, insurance and transport regulations.

“We usually choose them because they are very beautiful and not so damaged that they would be unsafe to borrow,” Mantia said.

Once the donor arrives, experts like Mantia accompany them to the Duomo’s storage facilities to select the statue. After it is selected, recovery usually takes between one and three months.

Centuries old marble

The bearded saint with the book was originally exhibited outdoors. Apart from a black crust of air pollution on its surface, there was no structural damage to stop its debt.

“This often involves surface finishing or intervention with compresses or mechanical cleaning,” Mantia said.

The marble used for both the statues and the Duomo comes from the quarry of Candoglia in Italy’s Piedmont region. The same stone has been used to oversee the Veneranda Fabrica del Duomo since the late 14th century.

“Besides being a symbol of Milan, the Duomo is also a symbol of its history,” Mantia said. “It is a monument that has grown together with the city, which tells in itself, in its sculptures and the style in which it is decorated, the whole history of the city.”

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Associated Press religion coverage is supported by funding from the Lilly Endowment Inc., AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US. AP is solely responsible for this content.