The initiative entitled the Grand Tour of Frescoes, funded by the house, began in Padua in late 2021. This city is renowned for its expressive 14th-century frescoes, which have UNESCO World Heritage status. Several projects will be implemented on the Italian peninsula over the next four years.
By supporting the Grand Tour of Frescoes initiative, a restoration program rolled out in cities in which Hermès is established, the house is celebrating know-how in which Italy excels. The name of the project is inspired by the traditional trip undertaken in the 17th and 18th centuries by people who came to hone their artistic education in Italy. The quality of the frescoes they saw never failed to amaze them. In some ways, the techniques used for their execution evoke the creation of silk scarves, requiring great dexterity and delivering a rich narrative.
Fresco production flourished in Italy during the Renaissance, giving rise to some truly remarkable works including the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary with the Archangel Gabriel, which is located beneath the porticoes of the Palazzo Angeli in Padua. This fresco, attributed to the painter Jacopo da Montagnana (1443-1499), is the first to benefit from restoration work supported by Hermès, in partnership with local organizations. With this initiative, the house is contributing to meeting the objectives set out in the UN’s 2030 Agenda to safeguard the world’s artistic and cultural heritage. The aim is also to raise awareness of the transmission of fresco techniques, so that they can be perpetuated long into the future.
