Lonato War Memorial Threatened by Degradation and Urgent Restoration

The bronze monument in Piazza Martiri della Libertà, which commemorates the war dead, risks collapsing. The alarm comes from Prof. Ugo Ughi, a minority city councilor. “The monument is heavily degraded,” he explains, “due to the detachment of the bronze part from the white marble backrest, a detachment that allows rainwater to infiltrate.” The effects of atmospheric agents have also sometimes deeply altered the bronze sections of the monument. All of this leads me to believe that urgent restoration is needed to restore the monument to its original state. It also seems appropriate to remove the added elements, such as chains, bombs, cannons, and other extremely unesthetic additions. The two very tall palms planted on each side of the monument should also be relocated, perhaps replaced with low shrubs.”

The warning and the history of the monument

This is Prof. Ugo Ughi’s warning, a member of Lega Nord and former mayor of the city. It should be noted that the monument in Lonato is one of the most beautiful war memorials in the province of Brescia. The bronze sculpture was created by Luigi Contratti, an artist born in Portogruaro, closely associated with Brescia. Living between 1868 and 1923, Contratti is considered a skilled artist, responsible for many monuments in Turin, Milan, Brescia, and Alessandria.

His works are displayed in France, Argentina, and Mexico. Among other works, he is the creator of the Nicolò Tartaglia monument in Brescia. The Lonatese monument is considered to be the last work of the artist. The bronze needed for the casting was supplied through the intervention of Senator Ugo da Como, by the Ministry of War. The funds for its realization were collected through a lottery. After the casting, the artist was unable to see the finished monument, which was inaugurated in 1924, one year after his death.