Milano Acquires 70 Vintage Prints from Gabriele Basilico's 'Ritratti di Fabbriche' for Civic Archive
The City of Milan has acquired 70 historic photographic prints from Gabriele Basilico's collection 'Milano. Ritratti di fabbriche' for €220,000 from Giovanna Calvenzi, the late photographer's widow. This purchase is part of the City's procurement strategy for 2026-2028 and will be stored at the Civico Archivio Fotografico located in Castello Sforzesco. Captured in black and white from 1978 to 1980, the series showcases Milan's industrial architecture and was initially commissioned by the Istituto Nazionale di Urbanistica. In 2023, Milan paid tribute to Basilico with the exhibition 'Le mie città.' Culture Councillor Tommaso Sacchi highlighted the intention to make these photographs accessible to the citizens of Milan. Established in 1933, the Civico Archivio Fotografico contains 1.6 million original images.
Key facts
- The City of Milan acquired 70 vintage prints from Gabriele Basilico's 'Milano. Ritratti di fabbriche' for €220,000.
- The purchase was made from Giovanna Calvenzi, the photographer's widow.
- The acquisition is part of the City's 2026-2028 three-year procurement plan.
- The works will be housed in the Civico Archivio Fotografico at the Castello Sforzesco.
- The series was shot in black and white between 1978 and 1980, documenting Milan's industrial architecture.
- It was commissioned by the Istituto Nazionale di Urbanistica and exhibited at the Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea in 1983.
- The book 'Milano. Ritratti di fabbriche' was published by SugarCo in 1981.
- In 2023, Milan held a major exhibition 'Le mie città' with 500 photographs across Palazzo Reale and the Triennale.
Entities
Artists
- Gabriele Basilico
- Giovanna Calvenzi
- Tommaso Sacchi
- Luca Beltrami
- Giampietro Agostini
- Francesco Giusti
- Tancredi Mangano
- Livia Montagnoli
Institutions
- Comune di Milano
- Civico Archivio Fotografico del Castello Sforzesco
- Palazzo Reale
- Triennale
- Istituto Nazionale di Urbanistica
- Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea
- SugarCo
- Artribune
Locations
- Milano
- Italy
- via Ripamonti
- via Ortles
- viale Ortles
- Palazzo Marino
- Castello Sforzesco