In the past few hours, regional deputy Sebastiano Fabio Venezia submitted aparliamentary interpellation addressed to the regional government asking for action to facilitate the assignment of Antonello da Messina’sEcce Homo to the Regional Museums of Sicily . The work, recently purchased by the Ministry of Culture, was initially included in the Feb. 5 Sotheby ’ s auction with an estimate between $10 million and $15 million, but was withdrawn a few hours before the sale. The Italian state later bought it for $14.9 million (about 12.6 million euros), from the owner, a private collector. TheEcce Homo is depicted on the recto, while St. Jerome the Penitent appears on the verso.
Venice pointed out that Sicily represents the natural location for Antonello’s works, which are already preserved in regional collections with important nuclei of his work, including theAnnunciata, St. Jerome, St . Gregory, St. Augustine, the Polyptych of St. Gregory, or even the two-sided panel depicting on the recto the Madonna and Child Blessing and a Franciscan in adoration, and on the verso the Christ in Pietà. Through the interpellation, the congressman calls on the regional government to coordinate with the Ministry to ensure that the masterpiece can be displayed in the historical and geographical context in which it was created. Antonello da Messina, the greatest exponent of Sicilian Renaissance painting, represents a bridge between the Flemish and Italian traditions. The placement ofEcce Homo in the Regional Museums, according to Venice, would therefore allow for the completion of the panorama of the artist’s works on the island and strengthen the identity value of his production.
“Through a parliamentary interpellation we have asked the regional government to take action with Minister Giuli to ensure that the precious painting can be exhibited in its natural location and that is in one of Sicily’s regional museums,” writes MP Venezia under a Facebook post. “This is in consideration of the fact that the masterpiece can return to the historical and geographical context in which it was generated. The painting constitutes a fundamental piece of Sicilian cultural identity, Antonello being the greatest exponent of Renaissance painting on the island and a cultural bridge between the Flemish and Italian traditions. On the other hand, Sicily is the artist’s homeland and already hosts fundamental nuclei of Antonello’s work. The iconic value of Antonello’s artistic production transcends the boundaries of art history, standing as a symbol of Sicilian identity in the world.”
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| Antonello da Messina: Congressman Sebastiano Fabio Venezia calls for the return of Ecce Homo to Sicily |
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