NAPLES – The mayor of Naples Gaetano Manfredi with the mayor of Pistoia Alessandro Tomasi and the councilor for Tourism and Events of the municipality of Pistoia, Alessandro Sabella inaugurated the photographic exhibition “Pistoia Santiago” in the Pontifical Royal Basilica of San Giacomo degli Spagnoli in Naples of Italy: the Silver Altar of San Jacopo”, created thanks to the joint commitment of the municipalities of Naples and Pistoia.
Until June 30th it will be possible to admire the exhibition project, with shots by Nicolò Begliomini.
The exhibition
“Bringing you closer to beauty” is the objective of the immersive photographic exhibition, with images of great impact and created with innovative technologies: xl format light boxes will allow the visitor to observe the full-scale reproduction of the silver altar, admiring even the smallest details the greatest goldsmith masterpiece of the Middle Ages, which involved five generations of masters between the 12th and 14th centuries for its creation.
Naples and Pistoia preserve within their historical and artistic heritage two treasures of incredible beauty, two religious monuments dedicated to the figure of the martyr Apostle San Giacomo Maggiore: the Pontifical Royal Basilica of San Giacomo degli Spagnoli of Naples and the Cathedral of San Zeno in Pistoia, built to house the silver altar of San Iacopo. It is from the ideal link between these two places that the exhibition project begins.
The municipalities of Naples and Pistoia, as part of their cultural policies, work to promote cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible, also and above all through initiatives that encourage its use by the public, encouraging opportunities for inter-institutional dialogue. By virtue of this agreement between the two administrations, for two months the images of the Silver Altar of Pistoia will “dialogue” with the works of the Basilica consecrated for almost five hundred years to the patron saint of Spain.
The protagonists
“The exhibition project that we are preparing to present – said the mayor of Naples Gaetano Manfredi – is the result of a dual collaboration: on the one hand the agreement with the Royal Archconfraternity and Monte del Santissimo Sacramento dei Nobili Spagnoli for the valorisation of the Basilica of San Giacomo degli Spagnoli, on the other the recent agreement with the Municipality of Pistoia which, by symbolically bringing to Naples one of the most extraordinary treasures of Pistoia’s goldsmith art, builds an ideal bridge between the two cities. Once again, culture confirms itself as an important driver of relationships and outlines an essential strategic framework for the socio-cultural development of the territory”.
“Two cities that come together in the name of art, history and culture and that from today are closer thanks to this exhibition – declared the mayor of Pistoia, Alessandro Tomasi -. An exchange that as a Municipality we convincingly wanted to support, as we did previously with Santiago de Compostela and Rome. I am proud to be able to bring to Naples a reproduction of the silver altar kept in the Cathedral of San Zeno, a symbol of our history and our identity. I expect this exhibition to be an opportunity for many people to get closer, through art, to Pistoia, a crossroads of paths, and to discover the great historical and cultural heritage that our city contains”.
“The photographic exhibition on the Silver Altar could not have found a better location than in our Royal Pontifical Basilica of San Giacomo degli Spagnoli, an illustrious monument of Renaissance art commissioned by the Viceroy of Naples Don Pedro de Toledo and dedicated to the Apostle James – they said the governors of the Royal Archconfraternity. Being able to admire this splendid masterpiece of medieval goldsmith art down to the smallest details and discover its most hidden details thanks to the mastery of the engravers who have followed one another over time is truly fascinating. A special thank you goes to the administrators of the Municipality of Pistoia and the Municipality of Naples and to the various sponsors for making this event possible which further enriches the cultural panorama of the two cities”.
The basilica
The immersion in beauty starts from the shots on display and extends to the Basilica: the national church of Spain, commissioned in Naples by the Spanish viceroy Don Pedro de Toledo and built by the royal architect and urban planner Ferdinando Manlio who finished its construction around 1547 , reopened to the public a few months ago thanks to the commitment of the Government of the Royal Archconfraternity, the Brothers and private individuals who allowed the restoration of 9 out of 14 chapels and other environments; of the Partidarios de Santiago Committee, the Sualma Association and other associations including Friends of Naples and animated by a program of events and activities carried out also thanks to the collaboration with the Municipality of Naples. Upon entering this Basilica, the emotion of re-discovering a previously denied place turns into amazement upon reaching the area behind the main altar where a true hidden treasure is kept: the Mausoleum of Don Pedro de Toledo. This imposing monument is a masterpiece of 16th century sculpture. in the European context. It was Don Pedro de Toledo himself who commissioned Giovanni Merliano da Nola, one of the most refined artists of the time, to design it.
The project
The initiative, designed by Giorgio Tesi Editrice and The Wall Association, was developed with the support of the Municipality of Pistoia, the Caript Foundation, the Giorgio Tesi Group and Conad, in agreement with the Diocese of Pistoia, the Chapter of Cathedral, the Giunta de Galicia and the University of Santiago, and in collaboration with the MIBACT and the Italian Center for Compostellan Studies. In Naples the exhibition is organized thanks to the support of the Municipality of Naples and in collaboration with the Real Arciconfraternita Monte del Santissimo Sacramento dei Nobili Spagnoli and the Partidarios De Santiago Committee with the University of Naples Federico II and the Cervantes Institute. Ilaria Moscato and Francesca Avolio will take care of the organization of the exhibition and relations with the institutions.
The author
Nicolò Begliomini is the marketing and communications manager of the Giorgio Tesi Group and Art Director of the bilingual quarterly magazine Naturart, distributed in over 60 countries around the world and online on the territorial valorization portal www.discoverpistoia.it.
A passion for photography born at an early age, as well as a love for his land and for art in all its forms, a very particular, innovative and personal style, which takes inspiration from the atmospheres and the play between light and shadow . Also known and appreciated internationally for his particular and modern style which tends to highlight, in his photos, details that are not very visible to the naked eye, Begliomini – who was the author and director of the official video for Pistoia Italian Capital of Culture 2017 – for over For 10 years he has been describing Pistoia and its territory around the world with his shots, he is the official photographer of the Bell’Italia magazine and collaborates with the prestigious magazine Art Dossier and the tourist portals of the Tuscany Region intoscana.it and visittuscany.com.
Its consecration occurred thanks to the creation of the images of the books in the “Approaching Beauty” series – published by Giorgio Tesi Editrice in collaboration with the MIBACT – dedicated to the main works of art in Pistoia (the Robbiano Frieze, the Pulpits of the city’s churches and the Silver Altar of San Iacopo) and characterized by the combination of authoritative texts with images created with innovative techniques, capable of enhancing the details with the declared aim of accompanying the reader on a journey into meanings and expressions and living an experience exciting when faced with works of extraordinary beauty.
Books that were presented with large events attended by over 2000 people, by testimonials of the caliber of Philippe Daverio and Antonio Paolucci and which over time have become traveling photographic exhibitions hosted in prestigious places such as the Palazzo della Regione Toscana in Florence, the San Giorgio di Pistoia and, with particular scenic settings, some of the most beautiful churches in Pistoia.
