Untitled Document

Society for the Ducal Palace of Mantova

The “Society for the Ducal Palace of Mantova” was formed in 1902 in order to support the protection and preservation, as well as to make better known the artistic wealth of the Ducal Palace of Mantova.
With a mandate to promote and encourage public interest in the history, the arts and culture which firmly links the town of Mantova and the Gonzaga family, this non-profit making association has always made itself available to aid the public and private administration since the beginning of the 20th century.
Although conditions have changed over the years, there is pride in knowledge that the love and passion with which its members have followed the aims of their statute, never diminished.
Article 2 reads: “The purpose of the association is to safeguard and preserve as well as to extend the understanding of the historical, artistic and cultural wealth of the Ducal Palace and the other riches of Mantova; to co-operate with the relevant bodies in achieving their objectives and to help bring greater appreciation, especially amongst the young, of this high cultural heritage”.
Since 1902 the Society has seen extremely busy times alternating with periods of inactivity; nevertheless nothing has ever weakened the awareness that the “Society for the Ducal Palace of Mantova” was probably the first Italian voluntary association with cultural aims.
There have been many restorations sponsored by the Society directly and many others for which it made the first appeals for help.
In the course of its life, the “Society for the Ducal Palace of Mantova” has also purchased old manuscripts and paintings from private collectors. To avoid their loss and to throw new light on the history of the town, these items have been restored and given to Archives or Museums of Mantova.
Periodically the Society organises round-table conferences, meetings and lectures on various aspects of the history of Mantova and its monuments. .

Restoration of two Renaissance relief panels portraying “Madonna col Bambino” of the Museum of the Abbey of San Benedetto.

Restoration of four big seventeenth-century terracotta panels located in their original site, in the sacristy of the former Santissima Trinità church (the Holy Trinity), now part of the Archivio di Stato (Record Office).

Reconstruction of the clocks on the façade of the shrine of the Beata Vergine delle Grazie.
Restoration of the two altar pieces of the beginning of sixteenth century portraying Beata Osanna Andreasi and Venerable Maddalena Coppini (presently at the Museo Civico of Palazzo di San Sebastiano in Mantova)

Restoration and placement in the original site of the painting “La Madonna dell’Assedio” after the theft and following finding on Novembre 2002.

restoration of the Camerino dei Cesari (Caesars’ Study) and Camerino dei Falconi (Falcons’ Study);
anastatic reprint of the 1929 guide “Il Palazzo Ducale di Mantova” by Nino Giannantoni.

a 1662 painting of the parish church of Cesole signed by the painter Girolamo Pelosi and two other paintings of the first half of XVIII century of the parish church of Rivalta s/Mincio ascribed to the painter Pietro Fabbri.

Acquisition and donation of archives of the sixteenth century

restoration of the decorated pilaster ascribed to Luca Fancelli on the corner of Casa Aliprandi.

parchment of 1135 (the most ancient document which refers to the Most Precious Blood of Christ);
promotion for the restoration of 250 parchments and illuminated manuscripts from the archives of the basilica of Sant'Andrea.

real size copy of the terracotta coat of arms of the 1494 podestà of Mantova, Gabriele Ginori.

part of the porticoes of the Pescherie (fish market) of Giulio Romano with the "Madonna dell'Assedio";
two marble tablets connected to the siege of Mantova of 1796 in the porticoes of Palazzo della Ragione.

the fresco of the "Madonna dei Voti" in the chapel of the Incoronata in the Cathedral of Mantova; organisation of the meeting for the five hundredth anniversary of the battle of Fornovo.

two other big frescoes in the transept of the Cathedral of Mantova.

two big frescoes in the transept of the Cathedral of Mantova.

the restoration of the big clock of the tower of the Palazzo del Comune of Piazza Broletto.

the restoration of the chapel of S. Giovanni Bono and its paintings in the Cathedral of Mantova.

the complete restoration of the chapel of S. Croce in the Cathedral of Mantova.

the ogee vault with gilded gesso decorations of the Grotta of Isabella d'Este.

the fresco of Virgin and Child with St. Leonard (chapel of St. Leonard -or S. Croce- in the Cathedral of Mantova).

the four eagles on the propylaeums of Te boulevard

part of the frescoes of the roof of the Sala dei Fiumi (the Room of the Rivers).

Mostra Iconografica Gonzaghesca (Gonzaga Iconographic Exhibition).

The "Society" is always glad to receive new membership applications and welcomes more volunteers to assist on different committees or to provide additional funds. To find out how you can do your part to preserve the heritage of the Ducal Palace of Mantova, of monuments, art and culture of our territory, e-mail us or write to Società per il Palazzo Ducale, c/o Mr. Danilo Cavallero at via Governolo, 13, 46100 Mantova, Italy.

2010	Restoration of four oil paintings with “Stories of the Evangelists” by Mantuan painter Teodoro Ghisi (1536-1601), owned by the parish church of Pietole (Virgilio).
2010	Restoration of fifty prints, works of the Mantuan engraver Antonio Carbonati (1893-1956), owned by bequest by the Società per il Palazzo Ducale, held at the Palazzo Ducale of Mantova.
2009	Co-foundation and membership to the “Sacha Caprianorum” Committee aiming at the restoration of the Cavriani Chapel (Oratorio), the 18^th century site where local rulers were buried in the Sustinente area.
2009	Contribution to the collection of photographic documentation of all works held at the Palazzo Ducale of Mantova, by Stefano L’Occaso
2008	Restoration of fifteen paintings representing the coat-of-arms of the first fifteen knights of the Order of the Redeemer established by Vincenzo I Gonzaga, belonging to the basilica of Sant’Andrea in Mantova.
2008	Restoration of five busts of roman emperors (including their supports) of the artist Pier Jacopo Alari Bonacolsi called the Antico (XV – XVI century) situated at the entry of the bishop’s seminary of Mantova.
2007	Restoration of a fifteen-century fresco in the Romanic church of Zello (Revere) portraying “Madonna col Bambino e Santi”.
	Contribution for the lighting plant design of the Romanic church of Zello (Revere).
	Acquisition, restoration and donation to the Museo Polironiano of San Benedetto of two majolica jugs of the first half of XVIII century belonging to the old Abbey’s pharmacy.
	Erection of a temporary structure for the removal of the coffin containing the mortal remains of Ferrante Gonzaga in order to make ascertainments.
2006	Restoration of two Renaissance relief panels portraying “Madonna col Bambino” of the Museum of the Abbey of San Benedetto.
2006	Restoration of the four minor altars in the Basilica of Santa Barbara.
2005	Restoration of four big seventeenth-century terracotta panels located in their original site, in the sacristy of the former Santissima Trinità church (the Holy Trinity), now part of the Archivio di Stato (Record Office).
2005	Contribution for the restoration of the chapel of Santa Croce
2004	Reconstruction of the clocks on the façade of the shrine of the Beata Vergine delle Grazie. Restoration of the two altar pieces of the beginning of sixteenth century portraying Beata Osanna Andreasi and Venerable Maddalena Coppini (presently at the Museo Civico of Palazzo di San Sebastiano in Mantova)
2003	Restoration and placement in the original site of the painting “La Madonna dell’Assedio” after the theft and following finding on Novembre 2002.
2002	restoration of the Camerino dei Cesari (Caesars’ Study) and Camerino dei Falconi (Falcons’ Study); anastatic reprint of the 1929 guide “Il Palazzo Ducale di Mantova” by Nino Giannantoni.
2001	a 1662 painting of the parish church of Cesole signed by the painter Girolamo Pelosi and two other paintings of the first half of XVIII century of the parish church of Rivalta s/Mincio ascribed to the painter Pietro Fabbri.
2000	Acquisition and donation of archives of the sixteenth century
1999-2000	restoration of the decorated pilaster ascribed to Luca Fancelli on the corner of Casa Aliprandi.
1997-2000	parchment of 1135 (the most ancient document which refers to the Most Precious Blood of Christ); promotion for the restoration of 250 parchments and illuminated manuscripts from the archives of the basilica of Sant'Andrea.
1995-2000	real size copy of the terracotta coat of arms of the 1494 podestà of Mantova, Gabriele Ginori.
1996	part of the porticoes of the Pescherie (fish market) of Giulio Romano with the "Madonna dell'Assedio"; two marble tablets connected to the siege of Mantova of 1796 in the porticoes of Palazzo della Ragione.
1995	the fresco of the "Madonna dei Voti" in the chapel of the Incoronata in the Cathedral of Mantova; organisation of the meeting for the five hundredth anniversary of the battle of Fornovo.
1994	two other big frescoes in the transept of the Cathedral of Mantova.
1993	two big frescoes in the transept of the Cathedral of Mantova.
1992-1993	the restoration of the big clock of the tower of the Palazzo del Comune of Piazza Broletto.
1988	the restoration of the chapel of S. Giovanni Bono and its paintings in the Cathedral of Mantova.
1986	the complete restoration of the chapel of S. Croce in the Cathedral of Mantova.
1984	the ogee vault with gilded gesso decorations of the Grotta of Isabella d'Este.
1981	the fresco of Virgin and Child with St. Leonard (chapel of St. Leonard -or S. Croce- in the Cathedral of Mantova).

1951-1952	the four eagles on the propylaeums of Te boulevard
1949-1950	the hall of the "Imprese" in Palazzo Te
1948	part of the frescoes of the roof of the Sala dei Fiumi (the Room of the Rivers).
1937	Restoration of the front of the Magna Domus.
1937	Mostra Iconografica Gonzaghesca (Gonzaga Iconographic Exhibition).
1933	i Gabinetti di Isabella d'Este and the small Giardino Segreto in the Corte Vecchia (Isabella d'Este's Rooms and the Secret Garden).
1926	four cabinets of the Corte Nuova including those of Ganimede and of the Falcons; il Gabinetto dei Cesari (Caesars' Study).
1925	la Camera di Giove (Jupiter's Room); il Salone delle Quattro Colonne (the Hall of the Four Columns) in the apartment of the Estivale.
1922-1923	the roof of the Scala di marmo rosso (the red marble Staircase); le Salette delle Città (the Rooms of the Cities); il Gabinetto delle Cicogne (the Room of the Storks); la Stanza dei Quattro Elementi (the Room of the Four Elements); several passages behind the apartment of Eleonora de' Medici.
1912-1913	il Corridoio dei Mori (the Moors' Corridor).