A saint on the sea, exhibition and guided tours

Photographic exhibition and guided tours of the statue of 'San Francesco and the wolf' of Monterosso al Mare on the occasion of the fifty years since the death of the sculptor Silvio Monfrini, author of the work. From 10 to 25 August 2019 . Opening Saturday, August 10th at 5:00 pm at the Oratorio Mortis et Orationis of the Confraternita dei Neri.

Fifty years ago, at the age of 75, Silvio Monfrini , the sculptor who had created one of the most iconic and photographed works of art and devotion in the Cinque Terre, died: San Francesco with the wolf on the Capuchin promontory of Monterosso al Mare . An eclectic artist with a remarkable knowledge of classical sculpture, but also very close to more contemporary forms, Silvio Monfrini, from Lombardy, a native of Usmate in the province of Monza, has never received adequate recognition for his work. He created monumental works in the squares of Milan, Monza and Trento, but also many cemetery and church works. It is not well known for what connection it arrived in Monterosso, perhaps the knowledge of the Lombard Capuchin Friars, the fact is that in 1960 Father Daniele da Pra, guardian of the Convent of Monterosso, expressed his desire to build a large devotional statue strong> dedicated to St. Francis to be placed in a panoramic and scenic location on the hill of Monterosso. The idea was well received by the superiors, by the Municipality of Monterosso and by the population, so that, all in a short time, the funds were collected to be able to design and build the sculptural colossus.

The statue, built and cast in Lombardy, arrived in Monterosso by train and was inaugurated Sunday 5 August 1962 in front of a large and curious public. In addition to the local authorities, the then Minister of the Interior, Paolo Emilio Taviani, and the Provincial Father of the Capuchin Friars of Liguria were present. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the sculptor's death, the Convent of the Capuchin Friars of Monterosso, within the calendar of the celebrations of its four hundredth anniversary of the foundation, presents a project of knowledge and appreciation of the history of the statue, perhaps the most photographed of the Five Lands, from tourists from all over the world.

On display are also some sketches made by the sculptor. The materials have been kindly made available by the sculptor Elena Mutinelli, nephew of Monfrini and by the Municipality of Used Velate (MB). A small catalog is available at the exhibition in which the photo album of the inauguration of the 1962 statue is reproduced, an album kept in the Archive of the Capuchin Friars of Genoa. During the period of the exhibition some free guided tours to the statue of Saint Francis are organized to discover this work up close and hear the story of this monument much loved by the population and visitors. Meeting on the terrace in front of the statue.

For info and timetables: www.conventomonterosso.it - tel +0390187.817531 - Facebook : monterosso cappuccini convent