The Director of the Museum and Real Bosco of Capodimonte Sylvain Bellenger received the award of “Commander of Merit of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George” by the Grand Master’s motu proprio.
The honorary title was conferred last Friday, 7 April 2023, by H.R.H. Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro, Grand Master and Head of the Royal House of Bourbon Two Sicilies, accompanied by H.R.H. Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Grand Prefect of the Constantinian Order, and the Order’s Delegate for Naples and Campania, Marquise Federica de Gregorio Cattaneo di Sant’Elia, who opened the doors of her historic home Ischitella Palace.
“The extraordinary commitment of Director Bellenger for the rebirth and promotion of the Bourbon jewel that is Capodimonte, keeper of the extraordinary Farnese collection” these are the basis of the motivation that led Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, motu proprio, award this prestigious honorary title. In the motivation, we can find in particular the care of the Real Bosco and the historical garden and international relations with major cultural institutions such as the Prado Museum with which the exhibition “The Spaniards in Naples. The Southern Renaissance” was organized and inaugurated last 13 March and the Louvre Museum, which will host the exhibition “The Louvre invites Capodimonte. Naples in Paris” from June 7th, a tribute not only to the great art gallery of Southern Italy that will bring together its masterpieces with those of the Parisian museum, but also a tribute to the city of Naples, its literature, its music and its cinema, thanks to a season full of events that will accompany the exhibition until January 2024.
The Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George is one of the oldest and most prestigious dynastic orders of Europe, and the knighthood motu proprio is reserved only to important institutional offices, aristocrats of high rank, heads of state, crowned heads, ecclesiastical authorities. It takes on greater value when, as in this case, it is personally conferred by Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Grand Master. The Constantinian Order is recognized by the Italian Republic and the UN.
“This prestigious appointment of ‘Constantinian Knight’ is therefore closely linked to both the Bourbon dynasty and the Farnese dynasty, whose historical memory and whose immense artistic heritage the director Bellenger has helped to protect and enhance, with commitment and absolute dedication” declared the Royal House.
Among the many personalities who attended the award ceremony, guests of the hosts Leopoldo and Federica de Gregorio Cattaneo di Sant’Elia, Delegate for Naples and Campania of the Constantinian Order, in the historical apartment of Ischitella Palace we mention the General of Corps of Army Giuseppenicola Tota, Commander of the Southern Operational Forces Command, Director of the State Archives Candida Carrino, Lawyer Antonio de Notaristefani di Vastogirardi, President of the National Union of Civil Chambers, Lawyer Riccardo Imperiali di Francavilla, President for the Campania Region of the Italian Historical Houses Association, the Marquises Giuliano and Roberta Buccino Grimaldi, President of the Union Club of Naples, the Marquis Roberto and Allegra Mottola d’Amato, President of the italian Circle of the Oar and Sail, Countess M. Grazia Leonetti di Santojanni, Engineer Ciro Verdoliva, General Director of ASL Naples 1, Valter Luca de Bartolomeis, Head of the Institute Caselli-Real Fabbrica of Naples, based in the Real Bosco of Capodimonte, Mayor of Portici Enzo Cuomo, Mayor of Frosinone Riccardo Mastrangeli, Professor Stefano Greggi, Director of the Complex Structure of Gynecology Oncology at the National Institute of Tumors of Naples-Foundation G. Pascale and again Elena Aceto di Capriglia, Giovanni D’Antonio, Matteo Genova Bocchi Bianchi, Federico and Isabella Imbert and Dr. Gianfranco Wurzburger, Head of Ceremonial Office of the Archdiocese of Naples.
The Director Bellenger received telephone greetings from Professor Massimo Osanna, Director of the General Directorate of the Museums of the Ministry of Culture.
