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The return of the masterpiece by the Piccio in the
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Effective April 11, 2001 the altarpiece can be admired in the Basilica
during opening hours. |
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| The altarpiece depicting Hagar, once refused by the St. Martin’s Vestry-board of Alzano Lombardo in 1863, was acquired by the Eng. Daniele Farina of Bonate Sotto, and remained part of his family’s art collection for a long time. Transferred (in circumstances not yet clarified) to the restoration atelier of Mauro Pelliccioli, it was finally displayed in 1970 at the Lorenzelli art gallery - and in such occasion was donated by the Association of Friends of the Carrara Academy, thanks to the mediation of its president Filippo Siebaneck, to the homonymous picture gallery. Later on, the altarpiece was the protagonist of the exhibit "Il Piccio e artisti bergamaschi del suo tempo" [“The Piccio and the Bergamask artists of his time”] held at the Palazzo della Ragione [Palace of Justice] in 1974. However its exceptionally large dimensions, abnormal for a “private collection” gallery like the Carrara Academy, were making it quite difficult to properly display this artifact, and consequently were limiting its public enjoyment. Recently the canvas had been withdrawn into storage - waiting for a general restructuring of the picture gallery rooms that would enable the reorganization of the whole XIX-century painting series – up until a final agreement with the St. Martin’s Museum was reached.
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