Fondazione Cariplo

Ranked among world’s most influential philanthropic organizations, the Fondazione Cariplo has been entrusted by Law to manage the assets gathered by the savings bank Cassa di Risparmio delle Provincie Lombarde over 180 years, so as to advance and strengthen the former’s charitable tradition.
The Fondazione Cariplo boasts an art collection of substantial historic and artistic value. It comprises 767 paintings, 116 sculptures, 51 artifacts and furnishings dated from the 1st century AD to the late 20th century. The Foundation’s collection features a broad range of artworks: stone artifacts, medieval wooden sculptures, Italian Renaissance and Baroque paintings, and Italian masterpieces of the 19th century (prevailingly Lombard art).
This remarkable artistic heritage is prevailingly safeguarded in Milan at Palazzo Melzi d’Eril (premises of Fondazione Cariplo), Palazzo Confalonieri (Fondazione Cariplo’s Congress Center) and at the Sanctuary of San Giuseppe. The sculpture of Antonianos di Afrodisia is exposed at Palazzo Massimo (Rome), whilst the ‘800 nucleus of the collection can be enjoyed by a broader audience forasmuch it is permanently exposed at the Gallerie di Italia Piazza Scala, Milan.
In order to promote and unveil its art collection, the Fondazione Cariplo has developed the Artgate.Project. It consists of a series of cultural and educational activities pivoting on the Fondazione’s art collection and addressed to a wide public, that include a dedicated website (www.artgate-cariplo.it), the permanent display of the 19th century artworks at the Gallerie d’Italia – Piazza Scala in Milan, works’ loans in Italy and abroad, the participation by the Foundation at diverse events in collaboration with various cultural institutions, and educational initiatives for schools (project ArtL@b).
The Artgate website (www.artgate-cariplo.it) was the very first and fundamental step taken by the Fondazione Cariplo within the process of appreciation of its artistic heritage. Besides the collection, this virtual gallery displays a precious historical-critical analysis of the works and the artists. Such information can be accessed through an effective and flexible set of research criteria, that allows the public to dive into different levels of knowledge and enjoyment .