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Antonio Tagliaferri ( 1835 -1909 )


Antonio Tagliaferri ( 1835 -1909 )

Exponent of the cultural life from Brescia in the second half of the XIX century, he was an incontestable protagonist of the architectonic – urbanistic and  cultural life of that town for more than forty years, until his death.

 He was a prolific architect, a very appreciated designer and painter, well-known and renowned beyond his native area. He was an honorary member of cultural institutions and was in the Boards for examinations and concourses in several Italian towns.

While attending the Accademia of Brera, he got in contact with the most important exponents of his age, such as Camillo Boito, G. Visconti Venosta, De Cristofori  At the same time, he cultivates painting  with a series of pictures closet o the works of  Mosè Bianchi, he eventually met at Brera.. There he exhibits, and gets mentions. He enters the artistic and cultural boards in the Municipality of Brescia. Among his projects there is the adjustment of the facades of the “ Teatro Grande” and porches, of the  Loggetta and  Monte di Pietà, the salvage of the hull that covers the Loggia.

But the most significant work remains the” nuovo Santuario delle Grazie” the new Sanctuary to the Graces, developed both in the wall works and in the pictorial and decorative works, up to the minute details such as the benches, chandeliers, aspersoriums, letting the most successful example of  reconstruction in this style and having Faustini and  Bertolotti as collaborators. He covers the ceilings with a neo Gothic styled blue colour and golden stars, a solution that will  be adopted also in the restoration of the church of S. Christ.
After so many projects and monuments like the ones to Garibaldi, Tito Speri, Moretto, Nicolo Tartaglia, G. Zanardelli, he takes part to nazional concourses, such as the one of the “ Altare della patria “ or “ Vittoriano di Roma “ with solutions inspired from Sacconi. He is member of the Board for the Justice Palace in Rome and enters the competition for the facade of the Duomo in  Milan and for the monument to “Cinque Giornate”.  For that he works in the area of the Castle (Castello) and via Dante and Cordusio for private mansions, the way he will do in Brescia for  Palazzo Martinengo now  Pinacoteca, Casa  Ducos… the castle Bonoris di Montichiari. Impossible to quote the new works and the restorations in holy buildings, the grave works, the monuments he executed  And also the minor arts, like furniture, gates, design, and designs for postcards, magazines, and banners… As an aquarellist he participates to exhibitions, becoming friend of Guidoni, Pezzoli, Bertolotti, Faustini, Manziana.

He dies on  22nd May 1909. He had a Franciscan soul,  for all his life he was good-hearted and serene, for the young artist he was generous in appraisals and encouraged them constantly. He also supported them to let them work. " He is the most significant interpreter of the eclectic repertory in Brescia in the second half of XIX century".