is a non-profit organization founded in 2018. Our mission is to preserve and promote Italian and international artistic heritage by distributing authenticated and patented limited digital editions of the greatest masterpieces from our museums partners. As a cultural association, we organize public and private exhibitions worldwide, and part of the revenues are directed back to the museums holding the original works, supporting and enhancing their collections.
Save the Artistic Heritage plays a key role in supporting and amplifying the efforts of Italy’s leading museums, ensuring the thoughtful digitization of their most valuable masterpieces, works of immeasurable cultural significance that are traditionally irreplaceable and immovable. This is made possible through a strategic partnership with Cinello Srl, a benefit corporation, which provides cutting-edge technology to safeguard these treasures for future generations.
The aim is to offer this technology to museums worldwide, creating new revenue streams that contribute to the preservation, enjoyment, and enhancement of their cultural heritage.
Concrete support is provided through the distribution of limited, numbered, and authenticated 1:1 scale digital editions, which are non-reproducible and safeguarded by an internationally patented digital encryption system developed by the technology partner, Cinello.
Save The Artistic Heritage ensures that museums receive a percentage of the revenue generated from the sale of digital editions or from their public exhibition through their partner, Cinello.
Exclusive Activities of Save The Artistic Heritage Substitutions and Loans
Thanks to the advent of digital technology and modern exhibition solutions, it is now possible to replace artworks during loans or restorations with limited, certified editions from Save the Artistic Heritage. This allows immovable masterpieces to be simultaneously showcased in multiple locations worldwide, enabling them to be admired in their most contemporary form as never before.
Enhancing Unexhibited Masterpieces
As is widely known, a significant portion of the works in our museums are not currently on display. Through digitization, these pieces—both masterpieces and lesser-known works—can be brought to the forefront, creating new, sustainable ways to manage and enjoy them.
Green Exhibitions Worldwide
Leveraging the advantages of digital technology, Save the Artistic Heritage is able to design and organize exhibitions globally with minimal environmental impact. These exhibitions are conducted with the approval of partner museums and are part of the Gallery Climate Coalition's initiative.
Digitization of Cultural Heritage
According to UNESCO's official website, Italy is home to 47 recognized sites (44 cultural and 3 environmental) out of a total of 936 worldwide, comprising 725 cultural, 183 environmental, and 28 mixed sites. The digitization of this heritage is a vital step for the future of our country. Save the Artistic Heritage, through its technology partner Cinello—whose patented technology is entirely developed in Italy—facilitates the thoughtful and secure digitization of public cultural, historical, and artistic heritage.
The association conducts research and outreach initiatives in collaboration with both Italian and international institutions, with a particular emphasis on communities facing social and economic challenges.
Save The Artistic Heritage is dedicated to cultivating a new generation of digital experts through educational and training programs. One of its main objectives is to implement digital literacy initiatives that will create new professional skills and employment opportunities.
The project also seeks to develop exhibition programs for schools in underserved areas and socio-culturally diverse contexts, using limited and authenticated digital editions to provide democratic and universal access to art.
Managed by a platform that uses the most modern technologies, with high protection standards, Certified Limited Editions allow files to respect all the requirements of works of art, first and foremost the uniqueness of the work itself, thanks to the most current and secure encryption systems. Certified Limited Editions protect the originality, quality of creation, authenticity and certified provenance of a work of art.
The platform was developed by a team of engineers from the tech provider Cinello to guarantee always and for each edition: the provenance, authenticity, ownership, uniqueness and non-reproducibility. The high technological content makes each Certified Limited Edition not copyable in any way, guaranteeing its uniqueness and making it impossible to steal, since in the event of illicit theft the file will be blocked and the work will no longer be visible.
The Cinello patent guarantees international protection. Suitable for preventing the uncontrolled spread of digital works of art, has been filed and granted in several countries around the world, including Italy, Europe, China and North America (US).
A Digital ArtWork consists of a set of elements that include:
The practice of replication in art has a long and fascinating history, spanning centuries and diverse cultures. From antiquity onward, the act of reproducing works of art has sparked important debates about the nature of originality and the role of the creative process.
In the classical era, for example, the Romans replicated Greek masterpieces to preserve and transmit cultural heritage. These reproductions, often made from less valuable materials, were not merely copies but expressions of admiration and respect. By recreating these works, the Romans helped to spread the beauty and aesthetic ideals of Greek art, ensuring their enduring influence across generations and civilizations.
During the Renaissance, a renewed focus on the expressive power of art transformed the concept of copying. Artists like Michelangelo and Raphael began using copies not just as studio exercises, but as autonomous works of art in their own right. Their approach emphasized technique and personal interpretation, elevating the act of replication to a legitimate art form. The invention of printing in the 15th century introduced a new dimension to copying. Engraving techniques such as woodcuts and etchings enabled artists to produce mass reproductions of their work. This not only democratized access to art, but also sparked the creation of a growing market for printed editions. Artists like Albrecht Dürer and Rembrandt became famous for their prints, which, despite being reproductions, were celebrated for their exceptional artistic quality and their contribution to the artists' public personas.
In the 20th century, the concept of copying evolved further with the advent of techniques such as lithography and screen printing. Andy Warhol exemplifies how editions can transform into a legitimate form of art. His screenprints of celebrities and everyday objects revolutionized the idea of originality, turning the copy into an icon of pop culture. The mass reproduction of artworks introduced a new form of value, with collectors willing to pay significant sums for limited editions, recognizing their cultural and artistic importance. Editions—whether lithographs, screenprints, or other media—hold intrinsic value not only for their artistic content but also for their ability to bring art to a broader audience. Each edition serves as a reflection of the artist and their creative process, making the work more accessible while preserving the aura of the original.
Ultimately, the role of editions in art reflects a complex interplay between originality, accessibility, and value. Collectors prize them not only for their connection to iconic works but also for their ability to preserve and disseminate artistic culture over time. Through the process of reproduction, art evolves and expands, creating new experiences for both artists and audiences.
Today, digital technology provides the most contemporary, secure, and sustainable way to capture the essence of the great masterpieces of the past, bridging them with both the present and the future.
The mission of Save The Artistic Heritage is to support and enhance Italy's major museums by ensuring the mindful digitization of their most important masterpieces—works that have traditionally been immovable and of inestimable value, and are carefully preserved and managed by these institutions.
Through its technology partner, Cinello srl (a benefit corporation), Save The Artistic Heritage offers patented technology to museums worldwide, enabling them to generate new revenue streams that contribute to the preservation, accessibility, and enhancement of their cultural heritage.
The following partners have already embraced the initiative:
Gallerie degli Uffizi, Florence, Italy
Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan, Italy
Biblioteca Ambrosiana, Milan, Italy
Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte, Naples, Italy
Complesso della Pilotta, Parma, Italy
Musei Reali Torino, Turin, Italy
Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice, Italy
Fondazione Monte dei Paschi di Siena, Siena, Italy
Museo di palazzo Pretorio, Prato, Italy
Galleria nazionale delle Marche, Urbino, Italy
Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Venice, Italy
April 2018, Milan
Inauguration of Save the Artistic Heritage
Under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture, Save the Artistic Heritage launched its activities by presenting the first selection of authenticated digital editions from its partner museums to an audience of authorities, museum directors, curators, and art enthusiasts.
July 2018, Naples
The Scapigliata, one of Leonardo da Vinci's most iconic works, was temporarily loaned from the Complesso della Pilotta in Parma to Palazzo Zevallos in Naples for the exhibition "The Distinguished Guest." Curator Marco Carminati brought Leonardo's masterpiece into dialogue with the digital edition of the painting by his student, Bernardino Luini, held at the Uffizi Galleries, highlighting the similarities between the two works in detail.
July 2018, Bari
During the meeting between Pope Francis and the Patriarchs of the Orthodox Churches, held at the Basilica of San Nicola in Bari, the Ministry of Culture requested the installation of two digital editions depicting episodes from the life of Saint Nicholas, created by Ambrogio Lorenzetti. The original artworks, typically stored in the Uffizi Galleries' reserves, could not be loaned due to their fragile condition.
April 2019, Milan
The esteemed Pinacoteca Ambrosiana made the exceptional decision to loan the iconic Basket of Fruit by Caravaggio for a major exhibition on the Lombard artist at the Palazzo Reale in Milan. The museum was able to preserve its exhibition layout and avoid any dissatisfaction among visitors, thanks to the limited and authenticated digital edition provided by Save the Artistic Heritage.
October 2019, Jeddah (KSA)
The first international exhibition of Save the Artistic Heritage, organized in collaboration with the Italian Consulate, took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and was dedicated to the great genius of Leonardo da Vinci. The exhibition served as an excellent example of how the technology provided by Cinello offers a safe and sustainable alternative to the loaning of priceless artworks, preserving the experience of the original masterpieces.
October 2019, Parma and Milan
On the occasion of the major exhibition dedicated to Leonardo Da Vinci at the Musée du Louvre, the works La Scapigliata and Portrait of a Musician were requested from their originating museums. The Complesso Monumentale della Pilotta and the Veneranda Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, initially reluctant, agreed to loan these delicate artworks thanks to the intervention of Save the Artistic Heritage, which provided digital editions of the works for replacement, without altering the museum’s exhibition layout.
December 2022, New York (USA)
Save the Artistic Heritage’s second international exhibition took place in New York at the Italian Cultural Institute. A selection of authenticated, limited digital editions from partner museums was presented. The event was supported by the Italian Embassy, aiming to promote and enhance the value of Made in Italy worldwide.
December 2022, Rome
The Alda Fendi Foundation dedicated an exhibition to the city of Venice and its Carnival traditions. For this occasion, an important panel painting by the Venetian artist Giovanni Bellini was requested on loan from the Querini-Stampalia Foundation. Although the loan was not granted due to time constraints, the digital version of the artwork made it possible to complete the exhibition journey.
March 2024, Maastricht
During the inauguration of TEFAF, the Bonnefanten Museum in Maastricht, Netherlands, organized a hybrid exhibition in its spaces. Two works by Sano di Pietro and Jan Brueghel from the museum's collection were displayed alongside two digital editions from Save the Artistic Heritage. The original, immovable pieces are held at the Royal Museum of Capodimonte in Naples and the Monte Dei Paschi Foundation in Siena. The exhibition was inaugurated with the participation of the museum's director, Stijn Huijts, the former director of the Pinacoteca di Brera, James Bradburne, and the president of Save the Artistic Heritage, Mario Cristiani.
In June 2021, John Sergio Blem, Vice President of Save the Artistic Heritage, was awarded the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic by President Sergio Mattarella, in recognition of his efforts and investments in the enhancement of Italy's artistic heritage.
The technological innovation of the limited digital editions promoted by Save the Artistic Heritage is specifically regulated within the recent National Plan for the Digitization of Cultural Heritage (PND), through which the Ministry aims to promote and organize the digital transformation process for the 2022-2026 period. In particular, the "Digital Copies" model involves the creation, by a third party, of digital reproductions of cultural heritage, produced in limited series and in a non-fungible format. The proceeds from sales are shared with the cultural institution holding the rights, based on a revenue-sharing model ("Guidelines for the Classification of Digital Products and Services, Processes, and Management Models." Release June 2022, July 11, 2022, in https://docs.italia.it/italia/icdp/icdp-pnd-servizi-docs/it/v1.0-giugno-2022/possibili-modelli-di-gestione/processo-3-prodotti-e-servizi-a-valore-aggiunto---modello-a-valorizzazione-economica.html).
A limited and certified digital edition is now part of the collection of the Ministry of Culture (MiC) and is regularly displayed in the main corridor of the Palazzo del Collegio Romano.
What I most appreciate about this initiative is that it is not banally commercial. It does not disrespect the original work but represents a new way to connect with art. Is it a reproduction, a copy or a ‘new original’? I do not see disharmony in this. Rather, I see these limited digital editions within a spectrum that leads us to know our culture more deeply
JAMES BRADBURNE, FORMER DIRECTOR GENERAL OF PINACOTECA DI BRERA AND PALAZZO STROZZI FOUNDATION
Reproducing artworks in high definition allows us to document their conservation status over a specific period and ensures their survival in the unfortunate event that they are destroyed or lost.
MONS. ALBERTO ROCCA, DIRECTOR OF PINACOTECA AMBROSIANA
The public has appreciated this initiative, and the high quality of the image allows us to enjoy the painting even if the original is not present.
A painting that for us represents identity, a work that is unmovable because of its fragility, can be admired today even outside the Italian borders through the initiative of Save the Artistic Heritage. While the exhibition at the Royal Academy celebrates the Renaissance, a digital edition of Raphael’s Marriage of the Virgin will be displayed in London. It represents the perfection of digital versus original, which visitors can still see here with us in Brera.
ANGELO CRESPI, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF PINACOTECA DI BRERA
