Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image size Acknowledgements This article constitutes an excerpt from my PhD dissertation. I would love to express my gratitude, first of all, to Egidio Marzona and Giuliano Gori for their outstanding activity as collectors. I also thank Cristiano Guarneri for his immense support and his excellent company during the excursions to visit the sites that are the object of this reflection. I also thank Professor Donatella Calabi, Dean of my PhD programme in Venice.