The Director of the Capodimonte Museum and Royal Park, Sylvain Bellenger, has been awarded the honor of “Knight Commander of Merit of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George” by motu proprio of the Grand Master.
The honor was conferred last Friday, April 7, 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. He was accompanied by H.R.H. Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Grand Prefect of the Constantinian Order, and by the Order’s Delegate for Naples and Campania, the Marchioness Federica de Gregorio Cattaneo di Sant’Elia, who opened the doors of her historic residence at Palazzo Ischitella.
The extraordinary commitment that Director Bellenger has dedicated to the revival and promotion of that Bourbon jewel which is Capodimonte, guardian of the extraordinary Farnese collection” forms the basis of the motivation that prompted Prince Charles of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, motu proprio, to award this prestigious honor.
The motivation specifically cites the care of the Royal Park and the historic garden, as well as international relations with major cultural institutions.
These include the Prado Museum, with its exhibition “The Spaniards in Naples.
The Southern Renaissance” was organized and inaugurated last March 13;
and the Louvre Museum, which starting next June 7 will host the exhibition “The Louvre invites Capodimonte. Naples in Paris”.
This event is not only a tribute to the great art gallery of Southern Italy—which will bring its masterpieces into dialogue with those of the Parisian museum—but also a tribute to the city of Naples, its literature, music, and cinema, thanks to a season rich in events that will accompany the exhibition until January 2024.
non solo alla grande pinacoteca del Mezzogiorno d’Italia che metterà in dialogo
i propri capolavori con quelli del museo parigino, ma anche un omaggio alla
città di Napoli, alla sua letteratura, alla sua musica e al suo cinema, grazie
a una stagione ricca di appuntamenti che accompagneranno la mostra fino a gennaio
2024.
The Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George is one of the oldest and most prestigious dynastic orders in Europe, and a knighthood awarded motu proprio is reserved exclusively for major institutional figures, high-ranking aristocrats, heads of state, royalty, and ecclesiastical authorities. It holds even greater value when, as in this case, it is personally conferred by Prince Charles of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Grand Master. The Constantinian Order is officially recognized by both the Italian Republic and the United Nations.
“This prestigious appointment as a ‘Constantinian Knight’ is therefore closely linked to both the Bourbon and Farnese dynasties, whose historical memory and immense artistic heritage Director Bellenger has helped protect and enhance with absolute commitment and dedication,” stated the Royal House.
Among the many personalities who attended the presentation of the honor, guests of the hosts Leopoldo and Federica de Gregorio Cattaneo di Sant’Elia, Delegate for Naples and Campania of the Order, were: of the honor, guests of the hosts Leopoldo and Federica de Gregorio Cattaneo di Sant’Elia, delegate for Naples and the Campania region of the Order in the historical apartment of Palazzo Ischitella we have: Army Corps General Giuseppenicola Tota, Commander of the Southern Operational Forces Command; Candida Carrino, Director of the State Archives; attorney Antonio de Notaristefani di Vastogirardi, President of the National Union of Civil Chambers; and attorney Riccardo Imperiali di Francavilla, President for the Campania region. of the Association “Dimore Storiche Italiane” THe Marquesses Giuliano and Roberta Buccino Grimaldi, Presidente of the “Circolo Unione di Napoli”, Marques Roberto and Allegra Mottola d’Amato, President of the “Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia” (The circle of the “Rowing and Sailing Italy”)
Countess M. Grazia Leonetti di Santojanni; engineer Ciro Verdoliva, Director General of the ASL Napoli 1; Valter Luca de Bartolomeis, Principal of the Caselli-Real Fabbrica Institute of Naples, located right within the Capodimonte Royal Park; the Mayor of Portici, Enzo Cuomo; the Mayor of Frosinone, Riccardo Mastrangeli; Professor Stefano Greggi, Director of the Complex Operative Unit of Gynecologic Oncology at the G. Pascale National Cancer Institute Foundation of Naples; as well as Elena Aceto di Capriglia, Giovanni D’Antonio, Matteo Genova Bocchi Bianchi, Federico and Isabella Imbert, and Dr. Gianfranco Wurzburger, Head of the Office of Protocol of the Archdiocese of Naples.
Director Bellenger also received congratulations by phone from Professor Massimo Osanna, Director General of Museums at the Ministry of Culture.
