Lecce, restored eighteenth-century manuscript, presentation at Must
Saturday 13 January, at 17.30 pm, in the Must conference room – Historical Museum of the city of Lecce will present the restoration of an eighteenth-century manuscript, donated a few years ago to the Municipality by the lawyer Giorgio Aguglia, which will be exhibited to the public for the first time at the museum, waiting to be kept in the new headquarters of the the municipal historical archive in the Augustinian complex.
The manuscript dates back to 1777 and is an unpublished musical comedy, entitled “Merit rewarded or Don Ciccio Nicolini elected judge of Lecce”, which mocks the political squabbles within the city administration and the election of the judge of Lecce. Having remained in a wardrobe for a long time, it was the subject of an in-depth restoration operation, completely manual, without the use of mechanical means, by the restorer specialized in ancient books, prints and documents, Antonella Aprile. In fact, there was damage - gaps, tears, compaction and insect crawling - which had compromised its integrity.
The work carried out allowed the recovery of this valuable work, which, at the time of its donation, was also studied and transcribed into current Italian by the scholar Giovanna Fumarola Costanzo. Both the restorer and the scholar will speak at Saturday's meeting at Must together with the mayor Carlo Salvemini and the Councilor for Culture Fabiana Cicirillo.
«On behalf of the entire municipal administration, I thank the lawyer Aguglia for having donated this manuscript to the city – declares councilor Cicirillo – which will become part of those that will be permanently exhibited in the new headquarters of the Historical Archive, in the Augustinian convent. It is very interesting to view also because it has been restored and studied by two excellent professionals who will help us, on the evening of the presentation of the restoration, to understand its content, structure and history".
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