[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 131 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 131

To express the sense of the Senate regarding the provision of technical 
assistance in the restoration of the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 6, 1997

 Mr. Domenici (for himself, Mr. D'Amato, Mr. Coats, Mr. Murkowski, Mr. 
  Mack, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Helms, and Mr. Leahy) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
To express the sense of the Senate regarding the provision of technical 
assistance in the restoration of the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.

Whereas the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is one of the finest examples of 
        Italian Gothic art and architecture;
Whereas the Basilica is a living museum providing a home for the art of several 
        great masters of the 13th and 14th centuries, and these art treasures 
        depict scenes from the Old Testament and New Testament;
Whereas the Basilica housed the most interesting and important pictorial cycle 
        in Franciscan iconography;
Whereas the famous fresco artist, Cimabue, began his work in the Basilica in 
        1277, and the works of Cimabue are seen in the apse and the vault of the 
        Basilica and include a lovely Madonna with Child;
Whereas Cimabue's pupil, Giotto painted frescos at the turn of the 14th century 
        and completed 28 famous and beautiful scenes based on St. Bonaventure's 
        account of St. Francis' major accomplishments during his life. The 
        frescos depict the life of St. Francis who had the special gift of 
        understanding and being able to speak to animals;
Whereas other talented artists including Simone Martini and Pietro Lorenzetti 
        left their artistic mark on the Basilica during the first half of the 
        14th century, frescoing the left side of the transept of the Lower 
        Church;
Whereas the Basilica was severely damaged by twin earthquakes on September 24 
        and 25, 1997, the extent of which has been described as more devastating 
        than the World War II bombings of Padua and Pisa in 1944;
Whereas the famous frescoes painted by Giotto on the side walls of the Basilica 
        in the early 14th century and depicting scenes from St. Francis' life 
        are cracked but mostly intact;
Whereas experts in Italy are already working to restore the Basilica; and
Whereas the National Gallery in London and the Louvre in Paris have offered 
        experts free of charge to help in the restoration of the Basilica: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Smithsonian Institution, the National Gallery of 
Art and any of the other premier art museums in the United States 
having pertinent expertise in restoration should provide technical 
assistance to aid in the restoration of the Basilica of St. Francis of 
Assisi and the works of art that have been damaged in the earthquakes.
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