In the same years when Michele de Napoli worked as a painter and dedicated himself to political activities, the workshop of Giuseppe Volpe was active in Terlizzi. Volpe, born on January 11, 1796, and died on October 4, 1876, was a skilled wood sculptor trained in Naples by Francesco Verzella. In the approximately fifty years of his career, he managed to gain a decent reputation by creating emotionally engaging simulacra that in many cases have literally shaped the devotional imagery of communities. For example, he created wooden statues of the Madonna della Stella, the Madonna di Costantinopoli, San Michele Arcangelo, and the Madonna del Carmine.

On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Giuseppe Volpe's death, next Saturday, October 3, the "Michele de Napoli" Art Gallery in Terlizzi will inaugurate the temporary exhibition entitled "The sculpture of Giuseppe Volpe on the 150th anniversary of his death," curated by Francesco De Nicolo. This initiative is carried out in collaboration with the diocesan project "Tesori d'Arte Sacra" of the Diocesan Museum Foundation.

The exhibition will feature some works by Giuseppe Volpe and his son Pasquale, also a sculptor, which are not well known because they are kept in private collections or have been removed from veneration, such as the mannequin statue of Santa Filomena from the church of Santa Maria la Nova.

The exhibition, which will be open until Sunday, November 29, also aims to broaden the view of the works in Terlizzi, a true "scattered museum" of the master's sculptures, through the creation of thematic guided tours scheduled for October 18, 25, and November 8, 22. It will also be an opportunity to learn about the history of churches usually closed to the public.

By the closing date of the exhibition, a volume will be presented to the public as part of the editorial series "le fabbriche dei Santi," curated by Francesco Di Palo, dedicated to wood sculpture in Terlizzi, revealing significant new information about Giuseppe Volpe.

For information about the exhibition and guided tours, you can contact 375 8523051 or write to [email protected].