SHARRYLAND
Val d'Arbia Museum of Sacred Art
In Buonconvento, between traditional spirituality and Art Nouveau style
Where is
What it is and where it is
In the village of Buonconvento it is possible to visit a collection of art and sacred furnishings from the churches of Buonconvento and nearby small villages. Spread over two floors, inside an aristocratic palace belonging to the Ricci Socini family, is the story of local spirituality. It is interesting, for example, to see how the depiction of the Madonna and Child changes, in some altarpieces more seraphic and composed, in others sweeter and more human. Not to mention the variety of furnishings and sacred works commissioned by families and confraternities, vivid evidence of the society of the time. A plunge into the past not to be missed.
Why it's special
In our parts, almost every village has a Museum of Sacred Art, or an Art Room, in which it keeps its treasures, from the churches in the village and the surrounding area, pale remnants of the marvelous panels, canvases and goldsmithing that were kept here. But here in Buonconvento there is a unique opportunity to admire them inside an Art Nouveau palace still well preserved in its decorations, finishes and some furnishings. It is almost a daring experiment in contamination, or, as many now say, a site-specific installation: instead of contemporary art in a historic palace, medieval and Renaissance art in a modern palace.
Not to be missed
The museum's home is Palazzo Ricci, built in the 19th century and restored in Art Nouveau style in the first decade of the 20th century. It offers visitors a glimpse of Italian Art Nou veau through numerous well-preserved details: its wrought-iron trim, wall decorations, porcelain, and yes, even a bathroom, which has come down to us almost intact in its 1910 setting. English sourced sanitaryware, the green and white ceramic tiles, the delicate wall color, and the elegant mirror. Every detail helps to fully immerse oneself in the good life of those years.
A bit of history
Therestoration of the palace was commissioned from architect Gino Chierici by Raffaello Ricci in 1907. The project fused the classical setting of the facade, almost Renaissance, with elegant Art Nouveau inserts, a style that is repeated in the interior with sinuous and feminine lines, frescoes created to decorate the reception areas, and ever-changing friezes in the different rooms. The collection of sacred art, on the other hand, was born in 1929 with a picture gallery desired by the parish priest of Buonconvento, initially located in the palace "Il Glorione" near the parish church. The move to Palazzo Ricci Socini came much later, in 1998.
Trivia
The museum headquarters has for a cousin a villa in the countryside, known as "La Rondinella." Built along the road going to Torrenieri, it was commissioned from Chierici by Luigi Saverio, Raffaello Ricci's nephew. Luigi, however, never lived in the house, and over time strange accounts flourished in return: the sound of footsteps, mysterious lights, strangers claiming to inhabit the villa... Undoubtedly the building exerts a supernatural charm, augmented by the ethereal image of a white-clad maiden frescoed beside the front door and the now decaying garden.
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