Bronze Sculptures Cast Direcly From the Surface of Works by Michelangelo Bernini, Cellini, Donatello, Canova and Other Masters to be On Display
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 26, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- City National Bank has teamed with Chiurazzi Worldwide to unveil, for the first time in Nevada, a collection of world-renowned sculptures rendered from the Chiurazzi Foundry mould collection at the bank's new regional headquarters facility in Summerlin. A number of the finest renditions of bronzes from Chiurazzi will be on display to the general public during regular banking hours beginning November 29 and running through December 31, 2007. City National's new regional banking center is located at 10801 West Charleston Boulevard near the Red Rock Resort and Spa and the I-215.
The Chiurazzi Collection includes more than 1,500 moulds directly from the surfaces of sculptures created by Michelangelo, Bernini, Cellini, Donatello, Canova and countless important artists from antiquity through the Renaissance, Neoclassic and Classic periods. These moulds were made over centuries with full authority of the Vatican, the Italian government and important museums from around the world. Sculptures from the Chiurazzi mold collection are exhibited in museums across Europe and North America, including the Getty, Chicago's Field Museum, The Ringling (Florida State Museum) and in storied private collections around the world.
Among the thousands of works Chiurzzai artisans have captured over nearly 200 years are such prominent pieces as The Laocoonte Group, Venus di Milo, Michelangelo's Moses and Vittoria of Samotracia (widely known as Winged Vitory). Among the pieces on display at City National's new regional banking center are the Laocoonte, Donatello's David, Mercurio Volante (Hermes) the Vittoria Brescia and many more. (For images related to this story, go to http://www.cnb.com/images/sabina.jpg; http://www.cnb.com/images/prosperina.jpg; http://www.cnb.com/images/mercurio.jpg; http://www.cnb.com/images/laocoonte.jpg; and http://www.cnb.com/images/berenice.jpg.)
"It is a real honor and a privilege to team up with the Chiurazzi Worldwide to display spectacular pieces from their world-renowned collection at our new Summerlin facility," said John Guedry, executive vice president and manager of the Nevada region of City National Bank. "This exhibit embodies what City National and our new facility is all about, which is helping people and communities on The Way Up(r) through Nevada's Premier Private and Business Bank(r)."
Guedry added that this world-renowned art collection also represents a wonderful partnership between the bank and Chiurazzi in an effort to help Las Vegas become more diverse in the arts and known as a cultural arts destination. Chiurazzi Worldwide will soon open a permanent exhibit in Las Vegas to bring these remarkable works to visitors from around the world.
"We are very excited to be a part of the grand opening celebration of City National Bank's new facility in Summerlin and provide Nevadans with an up close and personal look at these spectacular pieces of art," said Gale Roberts, CEO of Chiurazzi Worldwide. "This collection represents a time capsule of some of the most remarkable pieces of history the world has ever known. Chiurazzi moulds have literally frozen these great works in time, as they once were, before time took its toll."
Chiurazzi Worldwide is a new collaboration between the Setaro family (that preserved Fonderia Storica Chiurazzi in Naples, Italy) and Wyoming native Gale Roberts. Chiurazzi now operates on two continents, with Italy home to Chiurazzi's old-world casting and finishing of art, while Las Vegas is Chiurazzi's new global showcase for the joint company in the United States.
Over the next few years, Setaro and Roberts hope to grow the number of Chiurazzi exhibitions, offering private collectors an opportunity to join the likes of the Rockefellers, Rothschilds and the British Royal Family that personally own Chiurazzi bronze sculpture. The Chiurazzi Collection also contains some 600 moulds made from artifacts excavated from Pompeii and Herculaneum. Even more exciting, Roberts explained, "There are more than 200 moulds that remain to be identified. Imagine what we might find."
Additionally, Chiurazzi Foundry Principal Luigi Setaro is working with the Naples Academy of Fine Arts to create a masters degree program so talented artisans from around the world can study the centuries-old Chiurazzi process of making molds, sculpting and casting. "Chiurazzi Worldwide is committed to enhancing the artist's ability to produce and preserve classical art."
To learn more about this remarkable company, its intriguing history and the future of Chiurazzi Worldwide, contact Barbara Kenig at 702.498.9808 or visit www.chiurazziworldwide.com. For more information about the Chiurazzi collection on display at City National Bank's new regional banking center in Summerlin, contact Paul C. Stowell at 702.952.4415.
About City National
City National Bank is the wholly owned subsidiary of City National Corporation (NYSE:CYN). It is backed by $15.5 billion in total assets, and provides banking, investment and trust services through 62 offices, including 15 full-service regional centers, in Southern California, the San Francisco Bay Area, Nevada and New York City. The company and its nine majority-owned investment affiliates manage or administer more than $59 billion in client investment assets, including $37.1 billion under direct management.
City National has nine branch offices in Nevada, including five in Las Vegas and one each in North Las Vegas, Reno, Carson City and Minden. The bank also has loan production offices in Reno and Stateline in South Lake Tahoe.
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For more information about City National, visit the company's Website at cnb.com.