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The Clarence Bicknell Museum is a small building almost hidden at 39 Via Romana in Bordighera. This is often referred to as its official address, but the large villa is the seat of the International Institute of Ligurian Studies. To the right of the building is the via Clarence Bicknell leading to the entrance of the gardens of the villa and of the museum. The two buildings are part of the same bloc. In 1888 Clarence Bicknell built the museum to collect, preserve and exhibit his archaeological and botanical collections.〔(Site Frantiq )〕 == History == Clarence Bicknell was the first to study systematically the cave paintings of Monte Bego.〔()〕 During his explorations and research he collected notes, drawings, casts and photographs that were used to many scholars and enthusiasts. Many of his works were published in the volumes of the Linguistic Society and in French specialized magazines. Bicknell was a passionate botanist; he devoted himself to the study of the local flora and the Maritime Alps in general. His research was published in two books which became a point of reference for scholars in the field: "Flowering plants and ferns of the Riviera" (1885) “Flora of Bordighera and San Remo or a catalogue of the wild plants growing in western Liguria in the area bounded by the outer watersheds of the Arma and Nervia torrents'' (1896).〔()〕 The fruits of his passion can be seen in the Bicknell Museum in Bordighera. Created in 1888, it was the first museum of Western Liguria. The rectangular building has an entrance protected by a portico with four Roman-inspired columns, built by the English architect Clarence Trait. The interior is inspired by the structure used in the Anglican churches, with the podium required by lecturers for their academic presentations. Both sides have a fine fireplace decorated by Bicknell with floral and animal motifs. On the fireplace on the right there is a quote by Dante "Don’t do science if you do not think you have understood", and on the left the crests of those who collaborated to the creation of the museum: Clarence Tait, Giovenale Gastaldi, Francesco Giovannelli and Bicknell.〔(Armando Besio ISBN 88-7058-700-2 )〕 The museum also contains Clarence Bicknell’s library where it is possible to consult some 85,000 volumes, 3,000 journals specialised in art and local history, 14,000 engravings and the famous personal collection of butterflies, known to still be one of the most prestigious in Europe. On Bicknell’s death, all its properties were inherited by the son of his sister, Edward Elhanan Berry, who was very close to him, and by his wife Margaret Serocold Berry which he considered as a daughter.〔()〕 Berry came to Bordighera in 1880 at the age of 19 years to open a bank for the British. He immediately created a special bond with this uncle whom he never knew before and who passed him his passion for botany and history. Berry, who did much with his uncle for the creation of the museum, added all the fruits of his personal labour to the collections gathered by Bicknell. In the building adjacent to the museum, lies the International Institute of Ligurian Studies where you can admire the original book published by Berry in 1931 ''At the western gate of Italy'', which was long regarded as an essential text for anyone who wanted to study art and architecture of the Riviera di Ponente.〔()〕 When Edward died, Margaret worked to continue the museum and the cultural activities launched by his uncle and by her husband. She even made their private residence, Villa Monteverde (via Mostaccini 54), now a private residence, one of the most fashionable lounges in Bordighera.〔(Armando Besio ISBN 88-7058-700-2 )〕 During the fascist period, the British became ‘persona non grata’, and Margaret passed the precious museum and all of its contents to Nino Lamboglia, with whom she had worked in 1932, to build the future International Institute of Ligurian Studies. The Bicknell Museum, the International Institute of Ligurian Studies and the portion of roman street (Via Augusta) are part of the property protected by the Superintendence for Architectural Heritage and Landscape of Liguria.〔(List of protected properties )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Bicknell Museum」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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