Minister Giuli: “The Ecce Homo by Antonello da Messina will not have a home, the painting will travel throughout Italy”

John

By John

“The painting will have an official residence in the L’Aquila Museum, which this year is the Italian Capital of Culture and which among other things has its own collection of Renaissance works in which certain influences of Nordic European painting are also found in this particular example by Antonello di Messina. But, as we like to say, it will not have its own domicile: it will have a residence, as in the identity card, but its domicile will be throughout Italy, because it will be a painting that will travel”. This was said by the Minister of Culture, Alessandro Giuli, who went to the Sotheby’s headquarters in New York, where he was able to view for the first time the works “Ecce Homo” and “San Girolamo Penitente” by Antonello da Messina, a panel painted on both sides: on one side an intense “Ecce Homo” is depicted, with Christ crowned with thorns, on the other a “San Girolamo penitent” in a rugged rocky landscape. The work, purchased a few weeks ago by the General Directorate of Museums, will return to Italy in a few days.