The Italian project (2008-2011)

La Specia-Fezzano-Genova (“St.John the Baptist”)

   The artistic activity of the Russian sculptor Erzia in his salad days was closely associated with Italy (1907-1909, 1914). Concerning this, the Erzia International Foundation promoted and organized  two Russian-Italian project - "The History of the Statue of John the Baptist from the Fezzano’s Cathedral " and "Russian sculptor Stepan Erzya. Returning to Carrara ", dedicated to S. Erzia’s  sojourn in Italy (1907-1909, 1914). The project is being prepared for the achievement in 2011 and i dedicated to the Year of Italy in Russia and Russia in Italy, as well as the 135 anniversary of the birth of Erzia.

    The main event of the project " The History of the Statue of John the Baptist from the Fezzano’s Cathedral " is the finding, restoration and copying of the statue of the Prophet, Antecessor and Baptist John, which S. Erzia created for the Cathedral of Cristo Re in Fezzano in 1914. 

     For a long time the statue was in bad state of repair, situated in the alcove above the main portal of the cathedral and in 1960 was dismantled because of the beginning of the destruction of the statue. The Erzia Foundation first took charge of the rescue and restoration of S. Erzia’s works, and now as a result of careful renovation works carried out by an Italian restorer Daniel Angelotto (Institute of Restoration in Florence), the product has regained its original appearance. On March 11th the original statue returned to its historical place in the cathedral. The Diocesan Museum of Art in La Spezia gave a lecture devoted to John the Baptist, which was attended by representatives of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, diplomatic staff, scientists and the press. The Foundation with its own resources  also produced two copies of the statue of John the Baptist, one of just starts to be shown in public in Russia (Moscow) and Italy (Geneva,Santa Margherita,Carrara).