The Civic Museum of Belluno, situated in the ‘600s building Palazzo dei Giuristi, hosts a large collection of Brustolon's works including an important selection of drawings by the artist.
His piece, Christ's Crucifixion, is now conserved in one of the Palazzo rooms dedicated to Brustolon, whereas originally it was kept in the Church of Saint Giuseppe. This sculpture was mentioned in the documentation of a pastoral visit and therefore it was surely created before 1723 when the artist was more skilled and mature. Furthermore, this version of Christ on the Cross is similar to that found in the Church of Saint Pietro. There is also a terra cotta sketch of this piece of work with the artist's signature and the date 1728 in which he completed the piece, moreover the work was dedicated to the patron who commissioned it, Francesco Benetti.
The terra cotta version bears minimal differences compared to the cross which was made the following year for the Church of Saint Ignazio. A further demonstration of the artist's creative growth and maturity is another terra cotta, probably from Brustolon's work shop, which represent the “ Grazia”. This was the first stage of the preparation study for his arduous work on the six symbolic statues created between 1722 and 1727, commissioned by Count Tiozzo Piloni. The Count's portrait is the only existing portrait done by Andrea Brustolon and it is conserved in the Museum, along with a clay medallion of the fifty-year-old Count which has the artist's inscription on the right hand side. This portrait was also then used by Brustolon as a sketch for the Count's wooden bust which was part of the Museum's collection. Alas this piece was lost during the Austrian occupation of the city during the end of the First World War.
A wooden frame in boxwood is part of a donation from a private collection. The frame is adorned with seraphs and leafy plants which are similar to the flora decorations that garlanded the mirrors and matching chests of drawers, created by Brustolon's work shop for the Fulcis-de Bertoldi family. This fact is testified by the Knights' Cross of Malta received by Pietro Fulcis in 1702 which can be found on both of the abovementioned pieces of furniture.
At the museum, visitors may also admire a small side altar which belongs to the Church of Monte Pietà in Belluno. The lateral decorations are ornamented with floral decorations and angels – in the centre there is an image of the Holy Virgin Mary which has been attributed either to the painter Agostino Ridolfi or to the painter Francesco Frigimelica. There are also another three works of art which, thanks to recent restoration have proven to be works of Brustolon's work shop: a table top crucifix with its base decorated with the figure of Saint Francis and an angel holding an emblem engraved by Francesco Della Dia – a small altar for household moments of prayer and devotion, decked with seraph heads, which were symbols of Christ's Passion – four bronze medals and the door of a relic tabernacle chamber, which was adorned with a Holy Warrior, kneeling fully clothed in his armour.
Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday from 9.00 - 19.00 / Friday and Saturday from 9.00 - 20.00
Free entrance possible if in possession of the Brustolon Exhibition entrance ticket
Phone number +39 0437 944 836
Email: museo@comune.belluno.it
Church of San Pietro
The present Church built in 1750 has replaced the ‘300 Gothic building and contains
two columns which represent part of Brustolon's professional maturity: The
Death of Saint Francis Saverio and The Crucifixion. These two works of
art made of box wood were originally destined for the Church of the Saint Ignazio, however due to a decree by
Napoleon in 1806 they had to be re-collocated. The works were therefore used inside the Church of Saint Pietro
in 1833 where they were positioned within two new altars designed by Antonio Bosa. The column dedicated to the
missionary Francesco Saverio, was commissioned in 1723 by Andrea Miari, a member of one of the most important
families in Belluno. In the contract regarding this work signed on 29th April of that same year, one may read
that the requirements were “the piece has to be made in false marbled stone so as to appear made of stone”.
The contract also included the exact measurements of the piece and the number of figures to be represented.
Andrea Brustolon chose to create a work which centred on diagonal lines and reproduced some forms which critic might
connected to the works of the painter Luca Giordano: at the base he depicted the dying Saint and three children in
an embrace and Count Miari's children holding the family emblem, in the centre he positioned the Saint ascending to
heaven and at the top of the column he placed the Holy Mother Mary and Child, enshrouded in clouds and angels. The
Crucifix is signed and dated on the lower right hand section with the following inscription “A.B. Sculptor.
MDCCXXIX”. This piece was commissioned by the nobleman Francesco Benetti probably the year before and this is
demonstrated by the terra cotta sketch profile which holds that date and is on display at the Civic Museum. On the
lower section of the column there is a group of suffers with the Holy Virgin Mary, Saint Giovanni, a group of pious
women and the Holy Virgin Mary which is a replica of the figure of the Virgin Mother found on the altar of Dosoledo.
On the upper section there is a crucifix in typical Brustolon style with its reclining head, a loin cloth and physical
tension depicted throughout the body. Above the larger altar there is a golden, wooden poly chrome skyline created by
Giobatta Besarel, furthermore there are also six angels which ornate the outline and this is dated 1836, whereas the
two upper sections of the same piece are works of Brustolon. On the first altar on the left within a small niche, one
may admire a statue of Saint Antonio of Padua clothed in religious robes, created by the work shop of the Sculptor from
Belluno. Entering through the right hand doorway next to the presbytery, visitors may access the little chaplain
Cappella Fulcis and admire the frescoes which were painted at the beginning of the XVIII century by Sebastiano Ricci.
This work was commissioned by Pietro Fulcis who also commissioned Brustolon to create the statue of Saint Francis of
Assisi and the altar tabernacle which contain the remains of the Holy Cross. This cross was given to the city of Belluno
in homage from Pope Gregorio XVI, who was a native of Belluno.
Opening Hours: Sunday to Thursday from 9.00 - 19.00 / Friday and Saturday from 9.00 - 20.00
