L’oro invisibile,
12+1 opere preziose

The Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana, guardian of priceless treasures, in the context of the celebrations for the five hundredth anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci‘s death, presents the exhibition L’ORO INVISIBILE by Giulio Manfredi, curated by Alberto Rocca and Arnaldo Colasanti, under the patronage of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Cultural Activities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior and the Lombardy Region.
12 + 1 precious works, designed by Giulio Manfredi, made of Gold, Silver and precious stones; dedicated to the characters of the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. The exhibition celebrates beauty and emphasizes the idea that a classic can be reinvented before being interpreted. A new and intense relationship between history and contemporaneity. The strong idea is to add beauty to beauty: an intentionality that aims at the perpetual vitality of art.
From the meeting of Giulio Manfredi with Leonardo, precious and unique works of great beauty and charm were born.
Manfredi interprets the harmony of the masterpiece by taking back the colors and movements of the characters, as well as the mysterious and wise composition of the Last Supper. Each sculpture is rich in references to the life and hagiography of the protagonists and ideally contains the symbols of human values ​​such as purity, hope, friendship, family, peace. Precious stones enclose and communicate the charisma of each character.

The crown dedicated to Jesus is a horizontal line of light, studded with ancient symbols that tell the most human emotions and the most intense moments of life. In yellow and white gold with garnet and diamond, royal symbol. Bartholomew’s shoes are consumed for the long journey to India. Made of rose gold, silver with a sardonic, symbol of courage. Thomas, a curious man always looking for answers … a bracelet, a sequence of squares and concave and convex circles, a path that suggests the luminous outcome of his questioning. In white gold and rose gold with chrysolite.

“The Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana is the guardian of a very important artistic and cultural heritage – says Giulio Manfredi – and it is a profound joy to know that the ancient manuscripts created with devotion by scholars of other times – where each letter is a work of art – are still safe and studied. Even the Pinacoteca, with its precious collection, brings us into a magical world. But especially in this year of great celebrations for Leonardo da Vinci, the Ambrosiana plays a very important role as guardian of the Codex Atlanticus: there is no other place in the world with such an important legacy of the great myth. Being a contemporary creative and being chosen to celebrate Leonardo’s genius in a place so rich in history is an honor and an emotion”.