Dr. Marco Ceccarani, Professor of Art History and Sacred Iconography from Assisi (Italy), spent three days in Ferapontovo. He came to visit the Museum of Dionisy’s Frescoes. The Italian guest went to see the exhibition in the Refectory and the world-famous Nativity of the Virgin Cathedral of the Ferapontov Monastery and worked in the scientific library.
Marco Ceccarani wrote a wonderful review about his visit, “…Since, when I was a university student, for the first time I “discovered” Dionisy’s painting I felt in love with him, in particular, with his Crucifixion at the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow and above all his work at Pherapontov. Since then – long time ago – I have always dreamed and hoped to get here in order to admire his frescoes. Today such a dream has become real!
It was not easy to get here – it was a long and hard journey – but now I can tell with absolute certainty that my three days at Pherapontov have been very special. The direct and lively view of Dionisy’s frescoes is indeed a unique aesthetic, emotional and spiritual experience and Pherapontov will always have a special place in my heart.
I will quit with a short “academic” personal reflection: Here, at Pherapontov, perhaps, more than anywhere else in this immense and wonderful country, the Russian “large soul” shows its deepest and most authentic identity.
Dr. Marco Ceccarani,
Professor of Art History and Sacred Iconography,
Assisi (Perugia), Italy”.
