When my mother Giorgina Venosta passed me the baton of the Guido Venosta Foundation, created in memory of her father and my grandfather, we were in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. As President, I then tried to intervene as much as possible with concrete aid to cope with the emergency; among these was the donation of 12 intensive care beds to the Policlinico di Milano. And the Foundation that runs it, in keeping with a long-standing tradition, paid tribute to this charity by dedicating a portrait to me as the current President, painted full-length by Pietro Guglielmin, a graduate of the Brera Academy and an artist of international standing; the painting has become part of theunique collection that is the largest Benefactors’ Picture Gallery in Europe.
My portrait, together with that of five other benefactors, was exhibited to the public in 2023 on the occasion of the Festa del Perdono (Forgiveness Day), a secular occasion instituted in 1459, which granted plenary indulgence (the pardon, in fact) to those who visited the chapel of the Ospedale Maggiore, dedicated to the Annunziata, on her feast day, 25 March.
On this occasion, donations over the centuries were always generous and sometimes truly remarkable; the most charitable benefactors were then given a portrait, often painted by famous and talented painters (Francesco Hayez, Mosè Bianchi, Giovanni Segantini, Carlo Carla, to name but a few). A way of saying thank you, but at the same time a way of soliciting charity by showing how it was compensated through the honoured memory of the benefactor, of his memory that would transcend time by recalling his generosity.
A magnificent recognition therefore of what the Foundation has done, and a real honour for me, as well as a great personal satisfaction.
Web references:
- Guido Venosta Foundation
- Guido Venosta Foundation, Projects, Health/Social, Donation of 12 intensive care beds to the Policlinico di Milano, 2020
- “VareseNews”, by the Editorial Staff, For the Festa del Perdono the Policlinico unveils six new paintings dedicated to benefactors, from the Caprotti family to Tognoli, 23 March 2023
- Guido Venosta Foundation, News, For the Festa del Perdono the Policlinico unveils six new paintings dedicated to benefactors, from Guido Caprotti to Tognoli, in-depth article published on 26/03/2023
- I. Riboli, M. G. Bascape’, S. Rebora (a c. di), La generosità e la memoria. I luoghi pii elemosinieri di Milano e i loro benefactori attraverso i secoli, Milan 1995
- Guido Venosta Foundation, Projects, Health/Social, 18 Intensive Care Units in Brazil with Hope Onlus and Policlinico di Milano, 2020
