Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece 'The Benois Madonna' returns to Italy after 35 years

In the year of the 500th anniversary of his death, the youth masterpiece of the Tuscan Maestro returns to Italy, 35 years after his only exhibition at the 13th UNESCO Creative Cities Network Annual Conference in Fabriano. The Hermitage therefore, unlike others, has chosen to celebrate the genius of the great Italian artist in his native country, with exceptional works starting with the “Madonna Benois” in Fabriano, where the precious pieces of art are on display at the Pinacoteca Comunale di Fabriano of Marche until 30 June 2019. Conceived and promoted by Maria Francesca Merloni, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Creative Cities with the State Hermitage Museum, the event takes place in collaboration with the City of Fabriano, the Pinacoteca Civica of Fabriano and Hermitage Italia, under the patronage of the MiBAC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The exhibition is curated by the art historian