As many of you know, I seek out angels and find most of them in cemeteries. On a trip to Europe this summer, I visited the Cimitero Monumentale (Monumental Cemetery). It is one of the two largest cemeteries in Milan. To say it has an abundance of artistic tombs and monuments is an understatement.
The Cimitero Monumentale officially opened in 1866 and has been filled with a wide range of Italian sculptures as well as Greek temples, obelisks, and other works. The main entrance is through the large Famedio, a massive building made of marble and stone that contains the tombs of some of the city’s and the country’s most honored citizens (pictured below).
My husband and I spent several hours touring and only saw one third of the grounds. As you’ll see from my photos, the cemetery resembles a free outdoor sculpture museum. I’ve selected my favorite sculptures below. Not all are angels, I’ve also included other pieces that are emotionally powerful. Please click on the photos to enlarge them.
Someday, I hope to go back and see the rest, and in particular: the tombs of several famous composers, the Jewish and non-Catholic sections, and the monument honoring the Milanese killed in Nazi concentration camps.
In the Parting Kiss (1889) Sculptor Emilio Quadrelli captures the last farewell of a dying person done in the Realist manner. He shunned tradition and subscribed to the new ideas of social art at the time.
Val making a connection
Lilies of Heaven (1916) Francesco Penna designed this in honor of Adriana, the 9 year old daughter of Ettore Elisi. One of his finest works, an angel carries the young girl to heaven flying away from a field of lilies and is silhouetted against a gold mosaic dotted with stars.
The expression on this angel’s face is so poignant.
