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".