ACTIVITIES

From the 16th to the 18th century, many stucco artists from the areas around the Lake of Lugano worked throughout Europe, bringing a wealth of knowledge that they were able to adapt in different contexts. This collection of essays highlights the role of the stucco makers in construction sites and their particular technical skills, which enabled them to create magnificent decorations in imitation of marble from different locally available materials.

Main goals of the workshop:

• A joint discussion on the diversity of materials resulting from the local occurrence of raw materials and their processing, accompanied by demonstration of lime burning and slaking methods; and demonstration of gypsum burning and processing.
• Production of fruit stucco shapes - an opportunity to gain hands-on experience with the properties of mortars made based on historical procedures and recipes.
• Assessment of practical issues related to the production of stucco decorations composed of individual pieces. Techniques: attaching the finished shape to the substrate / modelling alla prima on the spot.

In this international conference will be presented new findings related to material studies within the broader context of the migration stucco artists, diffrent methodological approaches and the latest techniques for studying, interpreting, restoring, and preserving stucco decorations across a range of contemporary European countries.

Anastasia Gilardi presents the role of the art historian in the study of stucco works. By answering fundamental questions, she reveals the wealth of information that can be obtained from historical documents and how each work can be put into context within its place of origin and period of execution.

Main goals of the workshop:
• Reflect on the mechanisms of dissemination of decorative solutions related to stucco and wall decoration.
• Analyze the relationships between architects and stucco makers in different historical phases
• Visit churches and Savoy residences.
• Discuss the different methodologies of conservation and restoration of stuccos.

Marta Caroselli presents the role of scientific analysis in the study of stucco works, revealing the wealth of information that can be obtained from micro samples using different investigation techniques.

Meeting of Giacinta Jean and Alberto Felici with the Art Guides of Italian Switzerland. Training to understand what stucco is, terminological problems, how three-dimensional works and architectural decorations are made, the most important sites to understand this art in the Canton of Ticino, the Ticinese stucco artists, and the materials made available by the project “Resta di stucco” to share them with tourists visiting the area.

Alberto Felici presents the role of the cultural heritage conservator in dealing with the study of a stucco decoration, carefully observing the materials and techniques used in the creation of different works.

Jana Zapletalova takes us on a historical journey, presenting the account book of a plasterer from Meride: Giovanni Domenico Lucchese (1648-1670). The text allows us to discover his life and daily activities in the mid 17th century.

Video on stucco making. The video shows the different steps and the process by which a stucco decoration is made.

Resta di stucco presented in Versailles at the international conference "Le stuc dans les grands décors en France et en Europe, de la Renaissance à 1850” with the talk by Giacinta Jean "Form and material of stucco decoration. Developing research projects for a better understanding, conservation and dissemination".

The art of stucco is very antique and Ticino saw the birth of highly talented stucco artists who worked, especially in the 17th century, in royal palaces and cathedrals throughout Europe. Ticino also preserves stuccoes of great value that can be discovered with the diffuse museum and our platform. We learn more about the stuccoes in the Church of San Giovanni in Mendrisio. Alberto Felici and Giovanni Nicoli, research lecturers at SUPSI, will lead the visit.

The art of stucco is very old and Ticino saw the birth of highly talented stucco artists who worked, especially in the 17th century, in royal palaces and cathedrals throughout Europe. Ticino also preserves stucco of great value, which can be discovered with the diffuse museum and our platform. Let's learn more about the materials and techniques used to make stuccoes then and now. Speaker Alberto Felici, lecturer and researcher at SUPSI.

The art of stucco is very old and Ticino saw the birth of highly talented stucco artists who worked especially in the 17th century in royal palaces and cathedrals throughout Europe. In Ticino, too, stucco of great value is preserved and can be discovered with the diffuse museum and our platform. But how is a stucco made? Let's experiment and try our hand at making a small work. Workshop held by Giovanni Nicoli, lecturer at SUPSI.

Resta di stucco: Alberto Felici and Giacinta Jean present the technical diversity with which some famous artists have created their works that can be seen in Mendrisiotto. Event organized in collaboration with the Muggio Valley Ethnographic Museum and the Municipality of Balerna.

SUPSI researchers, involved in the Resta di stucco project, speak at the conference “Migrant artists: from the Italian-Swiss valleys to the Czech Republic”: Alberto Felici, The stucco technique; Giovanni Nicoli, Execution of replicas; Giacinta Jean, Knowledge, conservation and valorization of stucco decorations.

Resta di stucco and SUPSI research professors Giacinta Jean, Alberto Felici and Giovanni Nicoli engage with architectural historian Nicola Soldini to explore the relationship between architecture and decorative apparatus within the Oratory of the Nativity. The conference is sponsored by the Beccaria Association.

A study trip to Cracow and surroundings to discover the places where Baldassarre Fontana realised important masterpieces.

Resta di stucco takes the stage at BreggiArte to collaborate on this territorial promotion project, recounting the challenge undertaken to make known to the general public the works created by some very skilled stucco artists from Ticino. Giving voice to this experience is a dialogue between art and techniques with an interview with Alberto Felici and Luca Morici, research professors at SUPSI.

Resta di stucco is a guest of BreggArte to introduce to the very young the art of stucco through a workshop held by Giovanni Nicoli, research professor at SUPSI, who will pleasantly “get their hands dirty” for those who participate in the initiative.
BreggiArte is a pilot project for territorial promotion of the Muggio Valley that seeks to rediscover the valley during the summer months through art and cultural activities in outdoor spaces and historic town centers.

Presented to the media the “distributed museum” project, its technological devices and the activities developed to bring the public closer to the creations of Ticino's stucco masters. The “distributed museum” is a project designed for the local population and tourists visiting our territory, aimed at its artistic-cultural enhancement.
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Speakers:
Giacinta Jean and Luca Morici, in charge of the project.
Jurij Meile, communications manager of the Ticino Tourist Agency;
Lara Calderari, head of the monuments department of the Cultural Heritage Office of the Canton of Ticino;
Don Claudio Premoli, president of the Commission for Sacred Art of the Diocese of Lugano.

Let's learn the secrets of mixing lime, gypsum, sand and marble dust: to obtain stucco used to create sculptures and architectural decorations.

Restorers are a bit like doctors, a bit like detectives. With special lights, a microscope and various scientific instruments we discover what is hidden inside a stucco.

Main goals of the workshop:

• Knowing the region of the Lower Ceresio, between Italy and Southern Switzerland, where Baldassarre Fontana was born and had his first education in stucco making.
• Visiting the places and sites that could have played a fundamental role in developing Baldassarre understanding and interpretation of stucco.
• Sharing knowledge of materials and techniques of realization of stucco decorations.
• Experiencing the stucco making, learning and practicing the working technique of Baldassarre Fontana and understanding his particular skills.

The atelier of the Faculty of Conservation and Restoration is located on the contemporary SUPSI Campus in Mendrisio. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the techniques used to create the complex stucco decorations that enrich many religious and private buildings in the Canton of Ticino.

Resta di stucco participates in the conference “Baroque culture in Switzerland from a present-day perspective”.
The event offers an insight into the present and questions the - controversial - treatment of Baroque architectural culture today.

As part of the European Heritage Days, “Resta di stucco” offers a guided tour inside a church and a workshop to discover the art of stucco to learn how decorations are made and to observe some very interesting works in Malcantone.

For the “Resta di stucco” project, welcoming visitors to the European Arts and Crafts Days at SUPSI’s conservation and restoration workshop will be Giovanni Nicoli, a restorer and stucco artist with years of experience in the study and conservation of plaster and stucco works.

As part of the “Resta di stucco” project, SUPSI is taking part in the European Heritage Days with a practical workshop to discover the techniques used to create the prestigious stucco decorations that enrich churches and private palaces.