The Tuscan town of Monterchi near
Arezzo on Sunday paid homage to French movie icon Alain Delon,
who gave worldwide renown to a local Renaissance masterwork by
Piero della Francesca, the 'Madonna del Parto', thanks to the
1972 movie Indian Summer (La prima notte di quiete).
The tiny hilltop town's beautiful 15th-century fresco suddenly
became popular after the film in which Delon, whose death at 88
was announced on Sunday, interpreted a professor who urged to
visit the masterpiece, evoking its history and how it was
commissioned to Piero della Francesca by the population.
The film, directed by Valerio Zurlini, also alludes to the fact
that the artist is thought to have painted the picture for a
tiny countryside chapel shortly after his mother's death in
1459, possibly as a tribute to her, a town native.
After the film hit movie theatres, Monterchi suddenly became a
popular tourist destination, recalled its mayor Alfredo
Romanelli.
"Monterchi is grateful to Delon", he said.
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