Gargoyle

We're saving the sculpture of Staglieno cemetery, Genoa, Italy

Everyone visits Rome, Florence and Venice, but Genoa isn't on the "Grand Tour", and a cemetery on the outskirts of the city certainly isn't on the tourist radar. However, Staglieno Cemetery is a hidden treasure. It is the largest outdoor museum in Europe and holds the finest collection of mid 19th to mid 20th century Italian marble sculpture. Mark Twain wrote rave reviews of it, with good reason.

We are an American non-profit 501(c)3 supporting restoration of these irreplaceable marble sculptures. To date we have restored 15 masterpieces, with more in the planning stage. Last year we restored this 16 foot tall Art Nouveau masterpiece, the 1918 Pozzo/Debarbieri memorial by the artist Luigi Brizzolara (pictured below), along with the two beautiful smaller sculptures flanking it. The heavy layers of dirt are made up of pollutants that break down the surface of the marble. The dirt also obscured the design, making it very difficult to read the dramatic beauty of these works of art.

Visit http://staglieno.com to learn more and, and please consider a contribution to ensure these treasures will be here to inspire our grandchildren.





The Pozzo Debarbieri monument is flanked by two smaller marble gems, the Luigi Bodoano and Francesco Maino crypts.

We all understand giving to support medical care, feeding the hungry, and providing emergency disaster relief. We understand donating to local cultural activities, to enhance the quality of life in our own communities. But, why donate to restore statues in an obscure cemetery on the outskirts of a city that we might have never even considered visiting?

Our oldest records of civilization come to us through stone carving. This art has been with us throughout history. Italy at the time of these sculptures was a high point in technical skill, artistry and story telling in marble. These sculptures are at a critical point, deteriorating before our very eyes. This is a unique opportunity to save this irreplaceable cultural treasure for future generations.


The 1885 Benjamin Whitehead monument by Lorenzo Orengo, before and after our restoration.


Current work in progress on the 1881 statue of Caterina Campodonica, "the Hazelnut Vendor", the most beloved statue at Staglieno Cemetery in Genoa. This is one of the finest examples of the brief, little known artistic period known as "Bourgeois Realism" or "Naturalism".

Any size donation helps. If you are able to sponsor a sculpture you will be thanked and remembered with a plaque placed near the sculpture. Please contact me for more information.

JDiver

This appeal certainly fits the requirements for this forum; we will hope some FTers respond to save these unique pieces of stone carved art.

JDiver, Co-Moderator

SanDiego1K

We're fortunate to have one of the few stone carvers in the country on FlyerTalk. Thanks to Gargoyle, I've been following pictures of these wondrous sculptures on Facebook for the past year or so. This work is extraordinary in its beauty and represents an era that is now past. I will be making a donation in the next few days now that I have learned of this fund raising effort.

obscure2k

+1. Thanks for the info.

Gargoyle

This is one of the completed restorations that we sponsored, the Bauer/Bocciardo Memorial from 1902-1904. The artist, Leonardo Bistolfi, was a sculptor, painter and writer, and the leading Symbolist and Liberty Style (Italian Art Nouveau) sculptor in Italy. The pollution, humidity, moss and mildew were attacking the surface of the marble, putting it in a critical condition. We were able to catch it in time and stop the deterioration, and also improved the grounds around it to allow for better drainage, keeping the moisture from being absorbed up into the marble. We now have a maintenance program, with an arts restorer reviewing it every six months and doing whatever is required to protect it.

Before:


After:

SanDiego1K

That is stunning. I love the renovated piece.

Jaimito Cartero

What does an average restoration cost?

Gargoyle

While it's different with every sculpture, in general they are between $5,000 and $20,000. We also allocate about $300 per sculpture per year for maintenance.

Donors who sponsor a sculpture (or in some cases, two donors who share the cost) will be recognized with a plaque by the sculpture, but even the smallest of donations are appreciated- especially now, when all donations are doubled because of a generous matching donation commitment from a donor.

Our donation page is at http://donate.staglieno.com

Thank you for your interest.

Gargoyle

Our restoration of the Chiarella DeKatt sculpture is coming along beautifully. This 1880 sculpture by Domenico Carli was covered with a dense layer of dirt and black crust, which was retaining moisture and attacking the surface of the marble. She is being cleaned with a combination of laser cleaning and application of a gel with mild solvents. This penetrates the pores of the marble, and, when removed after 20 minutes, lifts off the dirt. These are very delicate methods with no adverse effect on the marble.

We are almost half way to our fundraising goal. Will you help us restore more of these beautiful art works at Staglieno Cemetery in Genoa, Italy? Visit http://donate.staglieno.com/ to learn more.

Gargoyle

As we near the end of the year, please consider supporting our restoration work. As the world becomes more technological, it's important to pass on to future generations these incredible examples of what people could accomplish with creativity, skill, a block of stone and simple iron hammers and steel chisels. All donations are tax deductible under U.S. tax code, and through the end of the year all donations are doubled thanks to the generous support of the Richard H. Driehaus Charitable Lead Trust.
http://donate.staglieno.com/

Even the smallest gift will have a great impact.

Gargoyle

An update- it's been a good year. We've completed 6 restorations in 2017, with two more nearing completion. Another is scheduled to begin in January, but we've selected more masterpieces that we hope to save. It all depends on raising donations, so I hope you'll join in at donate.staglieno.com

Here's one that needs preservation, the 1871 Filippo D'Albertis memorial, by a great sculptor, Giuseppe Benetti (1825-1914). Try to imagine what it took to carve that hair in three dimensions in a large block of white marble. And this is white marble, but after nearly 150 years, the pollution, dirt and bird droppings have bonded to the surface of the stone forming a brittle black crust. That crust starts to flake off, peeling off the surface of the stone, and it also retains moisture and humidity, causing further damage. Look closely and you'll see that her big toe has crumbled away.


Look closely and you'll see that her big toe has crumbled away. We need to restore her before she is lost to time.



Virtuoso work; the artistic and technical skills required were phenomenal. This sculpture is irreplaceable.

And be sure to "like" our page on Facebook, and follow our Instagram feed. I'm adding photos every day.
https://www.facebook.com/StaglienoSculpture/
https://www.instagram.com/staglieno_sculpture/

Gargoyle

Canarsie wrote a wonderful article in the Boarding Area about our work and the sculptures of Staglieno Cemetery:

http://thegate.boardingarea.com/the-...lp-to-save-it/