The Historic Picture Gallery of the Fondazione Estense has been formally donated to the National Picture Gallery of Ferrara, thus strengthening the link between the city and its important artistic heritage. The collection, consisting of 109 paintings documenting the Ferrara school of painting from the 15th to the 18th century, includes such notable works as Dosso Dossi ’s The Astronomer with Compass and Globe and Bastianino’s Allegoria Bacchica, testifying to the historical and artistic value of the local tradition.
The presentation ceremony was held in the Hall of Honor of the Pinacoteca, with the participation of Alessandra Necci, director of the Estense Galleries, Riccardo Maiarelli, president of the Estense Foundation, Marco Gulinelli, councillor for Culture of the Municipality of Ferrara, and Marcello Toffanello, art historian official of the Ministry of Culture. During the meeting it was emphasized that the Quadreria, which has always been kept and enhanced in the exhibition spaces of the Pinacoteca, now becomes part of the public heritage on a permanent basis.
“The merger between the two foundations,” said City Councillor Marco Gulinelli, “is not just an administrative choice but an investment in the future, the start of a shared path based on collaboration and a common vision of the public good. At a time when the city is preparing for important cultural reopenings, the donation of the Estense Picture Gallery to the Pinacoteca takes on a profound significance, a gesture that combines the strength of memory with the value of the future. The 109 works have indeed been definitively consigned to the heritage of the Ferrara community, thanks to the commitment and sensitivity of Riccardo Maiarelli, Alessandra Necci and Matteo Tiezzi.”
The official transfer of the works includes a bond of permanence in the Ferrara location, guaranteeing their public accessibility and the protection of their relationship with the territory of origin. This provision aims to ensure the enjoyment of the works by the community and to consolidate the role of the Pinacoteca Nazionale as the custodian of this significant artistic nucleus.
The donation is included in the framework of the ongoing merger between the Fondazione Estense and the Fondazione di Modena. In the transition phase, the Fondazione Estense intended to strengthen its cultural legacy by entrusting the Picture Gallery to the city, confirming its 30-year commitment to supporting and promoting local culture through philanthropic activities.
Ferrara City Councilor for Culture Marco Gulinelli called this event a historic moment for the city. He pointed out that the works of the Fondazione Estense, a legacy preceded by that of the Cassa di Risparmio di Ferrara, represent one of the first collections in Italy to be destined for public enjoyment since their origin in 1984.
Gulinelli also stressed the potential of the newly established Ferrara and Province ETS Community Foundation, established to support local culture and patronage, which will be able to offer a new impetus to cultural initiatives in the area. The councilor emphasized the importance of ensuring continuity and development of the city’s artistic heritage through active collaboration between institutions and private entities.
The Quadreria Storica, whose definitive transfer to the Pinacoteca is now sanctioned, thus represents a key element in the enhancement of Ferrara’s cultural heritage, a heritage that since the mid-15th century has seen prominent artists mark the Italian art scene with masterpieces still considered fundamental today.
The consolidation of the collection in the public sphere confirms the desire to preserve and make accessible a piece of the city’s artistic history. Keeping the works in Ferrara contributes to strengthening local cultural identity and fostering the knowledge and study of a pictorial tradition that has brought prestige to the city in the national and international context. The operation also testifies to the role that private foundations have played over the years in promoting and supporting cultural heritage, laying the groundwork for increasingly integrated and participatory management by the community.
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| The Historic Picture Gallery of the Estense Foundation permanently donated to the Ferrara Art Gallery |
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