ARCHITECT'S

After World War II, themes like the reconstruction of historic centers , the relationship between ancient and modern, the restoration of monumental buildings provided topics for a debate that involved the intellectual elite and in which architects, urban planners, historians and museum’s directors participated. In 1956 Licisco Magagnato became a director of the Verona’s museums. This meant that a strong change of cultural direction was going to happen. He initiated an ambitious program of reorganization of the museum network, with the critical reorganization of collections and, at the same time, the restoration of main museums. In this context, the director matured the idea that the restoration of Castelvecchio should be assigned to an architect specialised in museums and, after a careful examination, Carlo Scarpa was chosen. Scarpa's intervention in Castelvecchio takes place at a central moment in his career. In 1957 he was 51 years old and had already had the opportunity to restore and set up some of the most prestigious Italian museums such as the Accademia Galleries and the Correr Museum in Venice, the Palermo Regional Gallery of Sicily in Palazzo Abatellis, the Uffizi in Florence, the Gipsoteca Canoviana in Possagno, as well as numerous installations for art exhibitions for the Venice Bienniale.
Among the works of the Venetian master, Castelvecchio is probably the one most thoroughly investigated, both for the intrinsic value of the medieval castle and for the clear restoration, which has enriched it with considerable architectural value.
(© Museo di Castelvecchio)

COLLECTION

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