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| Celebrants pack Santa Chiara to pay tribute to King Francis II Photos courtesy of Real Circolo Francesco II di Borbone |
On Saturday, November 15th, members and supporters of the Real Circolo Francesco II di Borbone (Royal Club Francis II of Bourbon) gathered at the Basilica di Santa Chiara in Naples to celebrate Mass in memory of the 120th anniversary of the death of Francesco II, the last King of the Two Sicilies.
Festivities included a wreath laying ceremony, complete with honor guard dressed in period costumes, and an orchestral performance of Giovanni Paisiello's Inno al Re, the national anthem of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
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| Honor guard present the wreath |
A newly commissioned bust of Francesco II by local artist Domenico Sepe was on display in the Royal Bourbon Chapel. The work, referenced from an old black and white photo, masterfully depicts the Neapolitan sovereign during the final years of his life. Carved in clay, a single copy will be cast in bronze. A limited number of signed copies in plaster and ceramic will be available for purchase.
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| (Left) Bust of Francis II on the altar in the Royal Chapel (Right) Portrait referenced by sculptor Domenico Sepe |
Real Circolo Francesco II di Borbone is a pro monarchist, Catholic Association dedicated to promoting Neapolitan culture and the rediscovery of the History of the Two Sicilies. For more information about the association visit http://www.francescodiborbone.org/ or find them on Facebook.
