The conference title, "Di sculti marmi ti fai scala al Cielo", is a line from a poem dedicated to Francesco Mochi’s Santa Veronica, a masterpiece by the sculptor from Montevarchi, originally placed in one of the four large niches in the crossing of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. The poem, written by the little-known Tomaso di Leva, suggests that it is often monumental works that bring artists fame, allowing them to measure up to—and sometimes surpass—the great masters of classical antiquity.

Based on this premise, the conference sets out to explore monumental art, a key feature of the plastic arts, by focusing on two main meanings of the word "monumental." On the one hand, it refers to works of imposing size that evoke notions of 'greatness' and 'solemnity.' On the other, it includes those created as monuments, meant to serve commemorative, memorial, and funerary purposes. While these ideas are broadly applicable across the history of art, the forms and functions of monumental sculpture have evolved greatly over time, which is why the conference covers a wide range of periods, from the 16th to the 20th century.

The event will embrace various approaches to art history, from connoisseurship and historical-documentary research to iconography. The topic’s complexity will allow for a deep dive into the distinctive qualities of materials like marble, bronze, terracotta, stucco, and porcelain, while also examining the relationships between the early stages of the creative process—such as design, sketching, and modeling—and the final work, as well as any later variations.

The first day (February 3) will focus on the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, with papers on artists like Antonio Begarelli, Girolamo Ticciati, Giovanni Zacchi, Federico Brandani, and Antonio Raggi. The second day (February 4) will shift to 19th and 20th-century sculptors, starting with figures like Lorenzo Bartolini and Raffaele Monti, and wrapping up with the monumental decorative project at the Stadio dei Marmi in Rome.

The speakers are young scholars—PhD students and recent PhD graduates—from leading universities in Italy and abroad. The event is coordinated by two PhD candidates from the University of Bologna, Gerardo Moscariello and Francesco Zagnoni, under the supervision of Andrea Bacchi, director of the Zeri Foundation and a leading expert in Italian sculpture from the Renaissance to the 20th century.