Ugo Da Como Foundation Celebrates 60 Years With Research, Exhibitions, and Partnerships
The Ugo Da Como Foundation is preparing to appropriately celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of Ugo Da Como’s death, who passed away in Lonato on September 5, 1941.
The festivities will begin on Saturday June 16, the day of the annual solemn assembly, during which several significant events will take place: the award ceremony for the 53rd thesis contest focused on Brescia and Benaco subjects, the presentation of the «Dottor Gianfranco Papa» scholarship, the awarding of the Candida Ferrarini competition, a presentation by Professor Edoardo Barbieri from the Università Cattolica di Brescia, and the opportunity to view some rare editions of Lucio Anneo Seneca from the Da Como collection.
Activities and Projects of the Foundation
«Recent times have been particularly intense,» explains Stefano Lusardi, curator of the Foundation‘s collections. «It has been a year of significant work aimed at further enhancing an organization that is primarily of cultural nature, non-profit, hosting an important library and a very unique museum of its kind.»
«Under the guidance,» Lusardi continues, «of Luciano Faverzani, vice president of the Foundation, a series of multi-year projects have been developed, mainly focused on the knowledge and reorganization of the vast heritage built by Senator Ugo Da Como.»
Da Como was a refined cultured politician who chose the town of Lonato as his ideal place to dedicate himself to studies and lay the groundwork for what would become, upon his death, one of the most prestigious local institutions, housing numerous literary and artistic collections.
Collaborations and Literary Heritage
Great expectations for the future are built on new institutional partnerships established with Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, as well as with major public institutions such as the Provincia di Brescia and Regione Lombardia.
Roberta Valbusa, head of the Foundation‘s Library, is completing the digitized cataloging of the ancient collection, consisting of volumes dating from the 16th century.
The incunabula will belong to Jacopo Cerutti, a learned citizen of Lonato who gathered a significant collection of volumes characterized by editions of particular value, elegantly rebound.
This collection was purchased by Ugo Da Como in 1912, who paid 700 lire for it.
Restorations and Exhibitions
Stefano Lusardi, collections curator, is re-examining the old house inventories to understand the actual placement of the more than two thousand art objects decorating the house-museum.
This month, the restoration works on the façade of the Casa del Podestà are also scheduled to be completed, thanks to the contribution from the Ministero per i Beni Culturali. Additionally, the opening of the Glisenti sitting room is planned, a space particularly loved by Ugo Da Como’s wife, Maria Glisenti.
In August, an exhibition titled «Exeudit/Delineavit» featuring ancient engravings and curiosities from Ugo Da Como’s collections will be launched.
Starting August 24, the ancient engravings of the Da Como collection will be exhibited at the Palazzo Deodato Laffranchi in Carpenedolo.
Further initiatives are also scheduled for September and the months beyond.