Egidio Casagrande
Egidio Casagrande | |
|---|---|
| Born | Borgo Valsugana, Trentino, Italy |
| Occupation(s) | Sculptor, metalworker |
| Known for | "Our Lady, Protector of Europe" statue |
| Children | Ezio Casagrande |
Egidio Casagrande was an Italian sculptor and metalworker from Borgo Valsugana, Trentino, known for his copper and brass work. He is best remembered for creating the monumental statue "Our Lady, Protector of Europe" (Madonna d'Europa), a 14-meter-high copper sculpture installed in the Alps in 1957.
Career
Casagrande operated a metalworking business in Borgo Valsugana, specializing in the hand manufacture of copper vases and decorative items. His workshop, which opened in the late 1930s, produced a wide range of copper and brass work, including plates and panels depicting rural life scenes, religious art, amphorae, vases, planters, clocks, weathervanes, mirrors, jewelry, and crucifixes.[1]
From 1955 to 1960, Casagrande employed 120 workers and shipped products globally. The business continued until 1986, when it closed due to changing market conditions and competition from industrial production.[1]
He also created the cherub shell sculpture for Borgo Valsugana's Evita fountain, present at the town's entrance for half a century until 2002.[1]
Our Lady, Protector of Europe
Casagrande's most significant work was the creation of "Our Lady, Protector of Europe" (Vergine delle Vette or "Virgin of the Peaks"), commissioned by priest Don Luigi Re. Originally intended for Pizzo Stella at 2,000 meters altitude, the statue was ultimately installed at the Shrine of Our Lady of Europe at Motta di Madesimo due to safety concerns about the original location.[2]
The sculpture, made of copper repoussé over a steel framework, stands 14 meters (46 feet) high and weighs 4 tons. Though not formally trained, Casagrande completed the statue in ten months, working from 1955 to 1956. The statue was later covered with gold foil by skilled goldsmiths from Italy and other European countries.[3][4]
The statue began its journey from Borgo Valsugana in 1956, stopping in Pergine Valsugana and Rovereto before reaching its final destination. The monument was inaugurated on 15 October 1957 and functions as an outdoor sanctuary at the Shrine of Our Lady of Europe, located at 2,000 meters above sea level.[2][4]
Personal life
Casagrande was a member of the Alpini (Italian Alpine troops). His son Ezio worked in the family metalworking business.[2][1]
Legacy
Casagrande's metalworking techniques and craftsmanship represented a significant artisanal tradition in the Valsugana region. After the closure of his workshop in 1986, the traditional copper and brass working craft largely disappeared from the area. In 2018, former employees including his son Ezio organized an exhibition of Casagrande's works and those of other local metal artisans to document the region's lost metalworking tradition.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Arte del rame di Borgo in mostra" [Borgo Copper Art on Display]. Il Giornale Trentino (in Italian). Trento. 26 August 2018.
- ^ a b c "Quando la Madonna di Egidio Casagrande lasciò Borgo lungo le strade della Valsugana" [When Egidio Casagrande's Madonna Left Borgo Along the Roads of Valsugana]. Il Cinque (in Italian).
- ^ "Our Lady, Protector of Europe". The Tulsa Tribune. Tulsa, Oklahoma. 12 February 1958. p. 7.
- ^ a b "Our Lady of the Day (May 5) – Our Lady of Europe". Immaculate.one. 5 May 2020.
External links
- Article about the Madonna statue's journey (in Italian)