Ruskin, i Magistri Com(m)acini e gli artisti dei laghi. Fra rilancio del Medioevo lombardo e ricezione operativa del restauro romantico

This paper is divided into two parts. In the first one, the concept of Lombard Architecture is investigated considering Ruskin's vision focusing on the centrality of the activity of Com(m)acini, Antelami and Campionesi masters, ancestors of the modem Lombard Lake Artists, in the wording of Ruskin's idea of the Gothic architecture supremacy. Starting by these statements and considering a suggestive do ut facias point of view, in the second part of the paper some real samples of the reception of the themes of the Byzantine e Gothic revival by the XIXth century artists from Swiss-Lombard Lakes district are proposed. Supported by a secular tradition of supremacy in the building and architectural decoration fields, both all around Italy and in the different territories of Catholic Europe, in XIXth century individual artists or more articulated family workshops from the same geographic region (the area of pre-Alpine lakes of Como, Lugano and Maggiore) decided to extent gradually their business to an Extra-European setting and overseas. Some of these dynasties tried and specialized on Romantic restoration and on architectonic historicism to satisfy international patrons inclined on a European life-style. Working in different continents they also acquired new patterns and styles they revised and proposed in the architecture and decoration of their native land.