1828-1953

The founding of the Pio Istituto Teatrale by Duke Carlo Visconti di Modrone, which took place in 1828, is a clear example of the Visconti's interest in the world of theatre. The family was in fact involved in various ways in the activities of the Milanese theatrical milieu, due to the artistic and cultural interests of individuals and to the family tradition, through the ownership of venues and the commercial management of the Cannobiana and La Scala theatres.

Carlo Visconti was the director of the Imperial Regi Teatri in Milan between 1828 and 1830, during which time he promoted the adherence of show business professionals to the new Pio Istituto Teatrale, which he supported them in every way, also assuming the presidency. The Institute was one of the first mutual aid societies in Milan, with the aim of providing subsidies and pensions to theatre staff who had become unfit for work due to illness, accident or old age. Founded in 1828, the following year it was classified as a non-profit and later recognized as a Mutual Aid Association by decree of the Court of Milan on 23 July 1896. The organization was supported through membership fees, donations from private individuals (including the generous Count Carlo), and revenues from performances which were donated to the company coffers. The Pio Istituto was not reserved only for singers or orchestras but was open to all kinds of professionals: poets and playwrights, choreographers, voice teachers, set designers, master builders, even equestrian and acrobatic artists.

The Institute was active for over a century and finally liquidated on 15 December 1953, when the general organization of social security for workers had changed.

The documentation of the Pio Istituto Teatrale was originally preserved under the Impresa teatrale dell’archivio della famiglia Visconti, but has since been classified as an archive unto itself, reordered into an autonomous fond of 13 folders.

The documents, which cover the period from 1840 to 1953, include in particular a "State of Pensioners of the Pio Istituto Teatrale as of 31 March 18 40", lists and prospectuses relating to the economic administration of the institution, mandates and receipts for the payment of pensions, letters and notices with lists of names of the beneficiaries, certificates and memos on pensioners.