Tornano agli antichi fasti 50 statue dell’Albergo dei poveri di Genova

Fifty statues, seven busts and two medallions from the monumental area of the Albergo dei Poveri in Genoa have been restored through a project spearheaded by the Fondazione Friends of Genoa and the Fondazione Paolo e Giuliana Clerici. A donation of over 200,000 euros (approximately 100,000 euros each) from the two foundations enabled the statues, crafted in stucco and marble by prominent Genoese artists over the past 370 years, to regain their former glory.

The Albergo dei Poveri, established in the mid-17th century by Emanuele Brignole, who was its primary and most significant financier, is one of Genoa's most impressive buildings and a testament to the city's tradition of charity and munificence. The sculptures within the building, created between the 17th and 20th centuries, depict a gallery of figures in stone: benefactors, nobles, and figures linked to the institution's history.

These works are attributed to some of the most significant members of the Genoese sculpture school. Remembering the Albergo's superintendent, Annamaria de Marini, noted the baroque sculpture by Pierre Puget on the altar of the church in the complex, among the most beautiful baroque sculptures in our city, as well as the works by Francesco Maria Schiaffino, one of the most important artists of the 18th century, Filippo Parodi, Giovanni Baratta Carrarese, Giacomo Antonio Ponsonelli, Pasquale Bocciardo, and finally the latest names, which are those of the great Genoese sculpture school of the 20th century, led by the cemeteries of Staglieno: Norberto Montecucco and Giovanni Scanzi.

The campaign to valorize the monumental area of the building, which spans 60,000 square meters and was built to provide shelter for the city's poor, began in March 2025 and continued until mid-2026. This challenging endeavor was made possible by the decisive donation from the Fondazione Paolo e Giuliana Clerici, which chose to partner with the other foundation in the recovery operation, sharing the objective of returning the Albergo dei Poveri to the city.

Before the restoration, the surfaces showed accumulations of deposits over time, chromatic alterations, small cracks, fissures, and separations that compromised the ability to admire the works as they were initially conceived. The intervention, carried out by restorers Sara Davolio Marani, Daniela Tasso, Matilde Garré, Francesca Olcese, and Francesca Ventre, was conducted with a conservative approach, respecting the original material and minimizing interference, through cleaning, consolidation, integration of the voids, and chromatic recovery.

The operation allowed the emergence of details and expressive characters that, in some cases, were no longer legible for a long time. For some statues, this was the first restoration intervention since their creation. "Genoa - stresses Paolo Clerici, president of the eponymous foundation and vice-president of Friends of Genoa - gave a lot to my family and our entrepreneurial history.

With my wife Giuliana, we feel the desire to reciprocate this bond. The statues of the Albergo dei Poveri portray people who chose to dedicate a part of their wealth to the common good: a testimony that, as an entrepreneur, particularly touches me. We wanted to support its restoration because we believe that the success of a business also carries the duty of contributing to the life of the community.

This is the spirit with which our foundation was born and that guides our choices," said Paolo Clerici. Carlo Perrone, president of Friends of Genoa, added: "We believe that the preservation of heritage is a shared responsibility and that collaboration between philanthropic entities and institutions can lead to concrete and lasting results.

And we hope that this result will encourage the continuation of the path initiated, involving new supporters and partners to continue to valorize the extraordinary wealth of our city." Restoring "50 statues, seven busts, and two medallions" - concludes Marco Sinesi, honorary commissioner of the Asp Emmanuele Brignole - is a result that fills us with pride and gratitude.

The Albergo dei Poveri was born from the generosity of Emanuele Brignole and many benefactors, whose faces are carved into these works: it is particularly significant that, centuries later, it is generosity that restores its beauty.