Bolton “adopts” Milan Cathedral’s Hercules by supporting its conservation restoration

The Italian multinational Bolton has contributed, through its support, to the conservation restoration of a statue of Hercules, part of the sculptural heritage of Milan Cathedral, which has returned to its original splendour.

The “Adopt a Statue” project

The work, housed at the Stonemasons’ Workshop of the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano, was restored as part of “Adopt a Statue”, the project conceived by the institution thanks to the availability of the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape of the Metropolitan City of Milan, which enables companies and private individuals to support the recovery of sculptures removed from the Cathedral for conservation reasons and to host them temporarily at their own premises so that they can be rediscovered and appreciated. Hercules will be hosted at the Group’s Milan headquarters, in Via Pirelli, where it can be admired by employees, guests and visitors.

From 1387 the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano has been responsible for the construction, conservation and promotion of the cathedral. Continuing “Adopt a Spire”, the “Adopt a Statue”, the project launched in 2020, arose from the need to enhance a selected number of statues removed from the monument but still able to tell its story, by restoring them. Once the work is complete, the pieces can be loaned to donors and displayed outside the monumental complex, once again becoming accessible to the public and creating a dialogue with the city and the community.

The statue of Hercules

The statue, created in the sixteenth century by an unknown artist in Candoglia Marble, depicts Hercules as a young man in armour and military clothing, with his helmet raised above his face and in the act of drawing his sword. The feature that most suggests its identification with the mythological hero is the helmet shaped like a lion’s head, while the meticulous details of the footwear, finely decorated armour and hands gripping the sword testify to the quality of the workmanship. A work that bears witness to the extraordinarily rich sculptural ensemble that, over the centuries, has inhabited Milan Cathedral.

A story born in Milan

The connection between Bolton and Milan is no coincidence: it was here that the company was founded in 1949, and it is here that it still has its headquarters today. Since then, the Group has grown into an international organisation, while maintaining its roots in the city and in Italy. After having participated in 2018 the “Adopt a Spire” project for the care and conservation of the 135 spires of the Cathedral, the Group decided to continue caring for Milan’s heritage by adopting the statue of Hercules.

The comments

“The heritage of the Cathedral belongs to the history of Milan and continues to speak to the city, including through works that, thanks to the work of the Veneranda Fabbrica and the support of private individuals, can be restored and made visible again. Bolton’s adoption of Hercules demonstrates how important collaboration between institutions, businesses and cultural organisations is for preserving and enhancing what makes Milan unique. It is a tangible gesture, all the more significant because it comes from a company founded here and always closely connected to the city, helping to strengthen the bond between culture, community and business that forms part of Milan’s history and present,” declared Tommaso Sacchi, Councillor for Culture of the Municipality of Milan.

“Bolton was founded in Milan and retains a deep connection with this city. Our roots are here, and here we continue to build our future. That is why we are particularly proud to have supported the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo’s ‘Adopt a Statue’ project, contributing to the preservation and enhancement of one of the city’s most extraordinary symbols. Returning this work to its former splendour means safeguarding an important part of Milan’s history, art and identity, making it accessible and alive once again for residents and visitors. We like to think that, today as in the past, this statue continues to convey values of strength, courage and determination: timeless values that belong to our community’s cultural heritage and continue to speak to present and future generations,” declared Marina Nissim, chairwoman of Bolton.

This article was translated from the original Italian version with the assistance of artificial intelligence. In case of discrepancies, please refer to the original Italian version.