Documentary on Antonio Moscheni, the Italian Jesuit artist revered as India's Michelangelo

A documentary titled "Antonio Moscheni, il Michelangelo indiano" explores the life and work of Italian Jesuit artist Antonio Moscheni, who created Baroque frescoes in India. Born in Stezzano, Bergamo, in 1854, Moscheni studied at the Accademia di Carrara and ran a studio in Bergamo Alta. At 35, he joined the Jesuits as a lay coadjutor, decorating churches in Croatia, Albania, and Italy. In 1898, he was sent to Mangalore, India, to paint the Chapel of St. Aloysius Gonzaga at St. Aloysius College, a Jesuit institution. His masterpiece there features Baroque frescoes narrating the life of St. Aloysius Gonzaga. He also worked in Bombay (Church of the Holy Name) and Cochin (Cathedral Church), where he died in 1905. The documentary, produced by Silvana Rizzi, a distant relative, includes interviews, letters, and analyses of his works. Filmed in Stezzano and Indian cities, it highlights his legacy: in 2001, the Indian government issued a stamp in his honor. The film will be screened on November 10, 2023, at 6 PM at Auditorium San Fedele in Milan, under the patronage of the Municipality of Stezzano, during Bergamo Brescia Italian Capital of Culture year.