- Address
- largo Porta Sant'Agostino 337, 41121 Modena
- Web site
- http://www.galleriaestense.org
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Description
Modena, Este Gallery
The Este Gallery originates from the collections of the Este family who moved to Modena in 1598 and whose members were first Marquis then Dukes of Ferrara. The losses caused by the donation of Ferrara were compensated thanks to new acquisitions as the bequest of cardinal Alessandro of Este (1624) and thanks to the energy and the ambition of Duke Francis I of Este (1629-1659). After the hundred most valuable paintings were sold to the Electorate of Saxony in 1746, the Dukes tried to restore the collections back to their glory by purchasing and hosting works coming from the territory of Modena and Reggio. After the Napoleonic looting, the gallery collections were further enriched through donations, bequests and purchases like the purchase of the Obizzi collection in 1822. In 1854, the gallery was opened to the public in the historical seat of Palazzo Ducale. After the last Duke Francis V of Austria-Este bequeathed it to the city, the Gallery was transferred to the monumental Palazzo dei Musei in 1894. Thanks to the efforts of its many directors, especially Giulio Bariola at the beginning of the 20th century, the museum carried on its policy of purchases aiming in particular at the recovering of works coming from the ancient Este heritage. The current appearance of the Gallery is the result of an important reorganization of the museum realized by architect Leone Pancaldi between 1968 and 1975 and of necessary adjustments carried out in recent years. Beside a valuable collection of paintings, the Gallery also comprises an important graphic collection made of drawings, publishing and xylographic molds, a collection of ancient and modern sculptures, a selection of decorative arts (metals, glasses, ivories, majolica, pottery and furnishings) and a remarkable coin collection. Among the Duchy collections, there is the reminder of what once were curiosity collections: among them, there are some artistically fine music instruments passionately collected by Duke Francis II as the cello and violin realized by Domenico Galli, the marble harpsichord and guitar of Michele Antonio Grandi and the marble violin of Giovan Battista Cassarini. Moreover, there is the Amati viola and the famous Este harp which was realized for the last Duke of Ferrara Alfonso II.
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