Hurry up! Marche region 2016-2017. Treasures saved, treasures to be saved

The exhibition presents a selection of masterpieces from the towns and villages of the Apennine hinterland of southern Marche, affected by the terrible earthquake that almost destroyed or made inaccessible the churches, palaces and museums where these art objects were kept, often since their inception. The works on display are among the most precious gems of a territory that surprises for the extraordinary and unexpected richness of its artistic and historical heritage: a refined collection of paintings on wood and canvas, wooden sculptures, textiles and jewelry.

This is a significant and exceptional opportunity to introduce the public to some of the treasures of the southern inland areas of the Marche region, which are often overlooked and neglected by reports of the earthquakes that devastated central Italy. Hence, the exhibition's primary purpose is to remind everyone of the extreme urgency of saving this heritage from destruction and dispersion.

The splendid artworks on display have been chosen to represent the entire Marche territory, which was hit by the earthquake; it includes parts of the provinces of Ascoli Piceno, Fermo and Macerata, as well as the entities involved in the tragedy as owners of these assets, namely the Dioceses, the Municipalities and the regular male and female Religious Orders.

The exhibited works and the many others, removed and taken to the various temporary warehouses set up after the collapses and earthquakes of August and October 2016, were mostly kept since their creation in the churches, palaces and later in the museums of a vast area of the Apennine hinterland of southern Marche. These buildings will be a veritable jungle of innocent pipes and scaffolding for many years: it will take decades to return to their original location all the works of art that were hastily removed to save them from destruction. This is an operation that is still being carried out with great effort and courage due to the danger of possible further collapses of the buildings, by generous and competent people: the fire brigade, the carabinieri, the army, the staff of the superintendencies - among whom are some architects and art historians from the Uffizi Galleries - and the volunteers of the civil protection.

The exhibited artworks were chosen to highlight some crucial aspects of the figurative culture of these territories from the Middle Ages to the 18th century.