Alle origini di Arte Lombarda = On the origins of Arte Lombarda

In 1955, «Arte Lombarda» magazine was founded in Milan. Although the exhibition Arte lombarda dai Visconti agli Sforza did not open until 1958, the idea was already taking shape. the subject fascinated both superintendent Fernanda Wittgens and her staff, as well as the members of the Institute of Art History of the Università Statale. It was at the Università Statale that Art History professor Paolo D’Ancona – recently retired but appointed editor of the journal – worked alongside Maria Luisa Gengaro, young post-war graduates – above all Maria Luisa Perer (later Gatti Perer) –, and the superintendent’s collaborators to set up «Arte Lombarda» with enthusiasm but little rigour. the launch of «Arte Lombarda» was met with doubts and criticism, even internationally. After the second issue (1956), the journal skipped a year when the publisher Alfieri of Venice withdrew, Anna Maria brizio took over from D’Ancona and dismissed all his collaborators, and meanwhile Wittgens passed away prematurely. Despite these setbacks, Maria Luisa Perer did not lose hope and in 1958 revived the magazine, whose value she firmly believed in. She became its director, editor, and publisher, soon bringing «Arte Lombarda» – along with the experience she had gained from its early issues – with her to the Università Cattolica.