Banca di Credito Cooperativo di Barlassina. La Collezione d’Arte

The collection of the Banca di Credito Cooperativo di Barlassina (originally the Cassa Rurale ed Artigiana di Barlassina) grew over the years thanks to its deep roots in its region and the policy, maintained by the various Presidents who have succeeded one another at the helm of the bank, of fostering local artists. Among them are two giants of Italian painting, authentic sons of Barlassina, who later became ambassadors of Italian painting to the world: Emilio Longoni (1859 – 1932) and Valentino Vago (1931 – 2018). And there were also others, such as Asnago, Borghi and Cazzaniga. Over the years, therefore, it has built up an important art collection consisting of a few hundred pieces, a portrait of almost a century of Italian art, in this continuous give and take between the province and the centre, between local art and national and international art. The volume, edited by art historian Giovanna Ginex by selecting one hundred important works, gives an account of this development, which is historical, artistic and also corporate history, as often happens in the Italian provinces.