Senator Bob Kerrey, Sarah Paley, and Frick Trustee Walter A. Eberstadt; photo: Christine A. Butler
Bona Frescobaldi, Max C. Chapman, Event Co-Chair Donna Josey Chapman, and Francois Poulet enjoy cocktails privately upstairs before the event, in the former Frick family living quarters); photo: Alan Klein
Director Anne L. Poulet having just presented a silver commemorative salver from Tiffany and Company to Luca Crespi, son of honoree Countess Giuila Maria Mozzoni Crespi; photo: Christine A. Butler
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On Monday, October 20, 2008, The Frick Collection hosted its annual Autumn Dinner.
This year's dinner honored Countess Giulia Maria Mozzoni Crespi. A member of one of the oldest and most prominent Lombard families – whose name is linked not only with a range of industrial and cultural enterprises, but also, inextricably, with the Italian national daily Il Corriere della Sera – Giulia Maria Mozzoni Crespi is continuing the family tradition of social commitment.
In 1975, having left her post as editorial manager at the Milanese newspaper, Countess Crespi set up the Italian National Trust (Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano in Italian, or ‘FAI’ ) on the model of the British National Trust, which has been operating since 1895.
Over the years, this initiative – which started out with just a small number of dedicated individuals who saw the need to safeguard and enhance Italy’s artistic and environmental heritage – has become something of a mission and has brought back to life a rich array of national architectural treasures, which are now open to the public. FAI offers visitors the chance to see and appreciate historic homes, castles and abbeys, libraries and art collections, historic gardens and coastal areas, and the pleasure of enjoying happy moments amid harmony and beauty.
Giulia Maria Mozzoni Crespi has been showered with awards from all over Italy, including an appointment as a Knight of the Italian Republic, conferred on her by President Ciampi in recognition of her remarkable social commitment, and an honorary degree in the history of art from the University of Bologna.
We are deeply grateful for what she has done and for what she continues to do to support our cultural and natural environment. Nearly 300 attended, and over $1,000,000 was raised in support of The Frick Collection.
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