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SCULPTRESS
FOR THE VENERABLE FACTORY OF THE MILAN CATHEDRAL
IN THE CATHEDRAL, A PIECE OF ME
VENERABLE FACTORY OF THE MILAN CATHEDRAL
In 1992 Elena Mutinelli was selected by the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano to take on the role of sculptor of the Opera della Cattedrale; a commission that would continue actively until 2005 for the reproduction of the sculptures and decorations of the Duomo in Candoglia marble, sculpted by Mutinelli in her own studio, for the replacement of the originals: spires, bows and arches, compromised by time.
From 2003 to 2005 he was commissioned by the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo Di Milano to direct the stonemasons' construction site at the Opera Prison (MI), teaching them to faithfully reproduce the sculptures and decorations of the Milan Cathedral from the original model.
Sculpture of the Milan Cathedral, Veneranda Fabbrica Del Duomo of Milan,
Sculpture of the Milan Cathedral, Veneranda Fabbrica Del Duomo of Milan,
FIRST BOW July 1992
In my first test I decided to replace my face with that of the original model. If the Duomo did not confirm my assignment, at least my face would be in the spires of the cathedral forever!
he bow on the
left is a copy of the original. I decided to replace my face with that of the model on the right. It was the first ornament I touched with my own hands and brought to life with a chisel.
No trace remains to the uninitiated of who crafted the bows or the arches, apart from the internal documentation of the employment relationship with the
Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano.
Sometimes under the
base of the originals, now replicas of the past, were the initials
of the stonemasons who had crafted them centuries ago.
I fell
in love with every ornament and sculpture I touched, and there, even if no one
knows it, is my face hidden on a bow who knows where. Sometimes I wonder
who will replicate this piece in the future, and what is most precious to me is the
thought that this sculpture will endure, while I and the virtual metadata will not.
Too many now...And we won't be able to touch them, and we won't know how to save them, make them
perhaps eternal.
As soon as Biem,
my esteemed elderly construction manager, came to inspect the rendering of this first
piece, he clearly noticed the presence of my face imprinted in the sculpture, but
said nothing. He looked me straight in the eyes in silence for a very long
time...And then, he continued to give me the ornaments of the Duomo, which
allowed me to dedicate myself fully to my sculpture, allowing me to
keep my studio open in Milan.
The only thing
Biem absolutely demanded was an expressive rendering that wouldn't detract from
the work of the Duomo, but rather make it vibrate. He wanted the light and the sharp line
of the chisel to be alive, confident, and fluid on the planes.
The sculptures
had to be perfect, even when seen from afar.
From the Cathedral and
especially from the construction manager, who, despite his sternness, had great patience with me, I
learned to use only a sharp chisel and nail. I felt the vision and
the time of someone who loved art in the shadows, and all that historical heritage
that resides in the spires of the Cathedral.
I thank
Engineer Morling and Mr. Biem, who is no longer with us, for giving me a
unique opportunity, allowing me to fully dedicate myself to my
sculpture.
I entered the Archbishop's Palace for the
first time, knocking on the door with a portfolio and a single
request: "I am a sculptor, I know how to work in marble, I would like to work for the
Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano." Apart from the secretary, who was a little
visibly resistant, Engineer Morling said to me: "Let's try. You'll start
a first test piece in July." I closed the door and said goodbye to the secretary,
with her unexpectedly kind reply.
After many
years of collaboration, I managed the stonemasons' production site at the Opera Prison (Milan), teaching inmates who were never to serve their sentences to faithfully reproduce the ornaments and sculptures of the Milan Cathedral from the original models. Perhaps by then, the secretary had changed... Well.
Elena
Mutinelli
© ELENA MUTINELLI | All rights reserved
LINK SOCIAL WEB -> CLICK HERE
Share Linktree
sculpture@elenamutinelli.eu
EM SCULPTURE GALLERY