Castello Ursino ( scn, Casteddu Ursinu, lit=Bear Castle), also known as Castello Svevo di Catania,
is a
castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by military orders. Scholars debate the scope of the word ''castle'', but usually consider it to be the private fortified r ...
in
Catania
Catania (, , Sicilian and ) is the second largest municipality in Sicily, after Palermo. Despite its reputation as the second city of the island, Catania is the largest Sicilian conurbation, among the largest in Italy, as evidenced also by ...
,
Sicily
(man) it, Siciliana (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title =
, population_blank1 =
, demographics_type1 = Ethnicity
, demographics1_footnotes =
, demographi ...
, southern
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
. It was built in the 13th century as a royal castle of the
Kingdom of Sicily
The Kingdom of Sicily ( la, Regnum Siciliae; it, Regno di Sicilia; scn, Regnu di Sicilia) was a state that existed in the south of the Italian Peninsula and for a time the region of Ifriqiya from its founding by Roger II of Sicily in 1130 un ...
, and is mostly known for its role in the
Sicilian Vespers
The Sicilian Vespers ( it, Vespri siciliani; scn, Vespiri siciliani) was a successful rebellion on the island of Sicily that broke out at Easter 1282 against the rule of the French-born king Charles I of Anjou, who had ruled the Kingdom of S ...
, when it became the seat of the
Sicilian Parliament
The Sicilian Parliament was the legislature of the Kingdom of Sicily.
History
The Sicilian Parliament is arguably one of the oldest parliaments in the world and the first legislature in the modern sense.
In 1097 came the first conference i ...
. The castle is in good condition today, and it is open to the public as a
museum
A museum ( ; plural museums or, rarely, musea) is a building or institution that cares for and displays a collection of artifacts and other objects of artistic, cultural, historical, or scientific importance. Many public museums make these ...
.
History
Construction
Castello Ursino was built between 1239 and 1250, as one of the royal castles of Emperor
Frederick II, King of Sicily, closing a chapter on the turbulent time in Sicily that followed the death of his predecessor,
William II.
Local lords had attempted to assert independence, and in 1220 Frederick II had ordered the destruction of all non-royal castles in Sicily.
Castello Ursino was built to stress royal power as well as for the defence of the capital,
and was considered impregnable at the time.
Sicilian Vespers
In 1295, during the
Sicilian Vespers
The Sicilian Vespers ( it, Vespri siciliani; scn, Vespiri siciliani) was a successful rebellion on the island of Sicily that broke out at Easter 1282 against the rule of the French-born king Charles I of Anjou, who had ruled the Kingdom of S ...
, the
Parliament
In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
which declared deposed
James II of Aragon
James II (Catalan: ''Jaume II''; Spanish: ''Jaime II;'' 10 April 1267 – 2 or 5 November 1327), called the Just,, an, Chaime lo Chusto, es, Jaime el Justo. was the King of Aragon and Valencia and Count of Barcelona from 1291 to 1327. He ...
as King of Sicily, replacing him with
Frederick III, was held here. The following year it was captured by
Robert of Anjou
Robert of Anjou ( it, Roberto d'Angiò), known as Robert the Wise ( it, Roberto il Saggio; 1276 – 20 January 1343), was King of Naples, titular King of Jerusalem and Count of Provence and Forcalquier from 1309 to 1343, the central figure of Ita ...
but was later again in Aragonese hands.
Royal seat
King Frederick III resided in the castle, as well as his successors
Peter II,
Louis Louis may refer to:
* Louis (coin)
* Louis (given name), origin and several individuals with this name
* Louis (surname)
* Louis (singer), Serbian singer
* HMS ''Louis'', two ships of the Royal Navy
See also
Derived or associated terms
* Lewis ( ...
,
Frederick IV and
Maria
Maria may refer to:
People
* Mary, mother of Jesus
* Maria (given name), a popular given name in many languages
Place names Extraterrestrial
* 170 Maria, a Main belt S-type asteroid discovered in 1877
* Lunar maria (plural of ''mare''), large, ...
. Here the latter was kidnapped by
Guglielmo Raimondo III Moncada to avoid her marriage with
Gian Galeazzo Visconti
Gian Galeazzo Visconti (16 October 1351 – 3 September 1402), was the first duke of Milan (1395) and ruled the late-medieval city just before the dawn of the Renaissance. He also ruled Lombardy jointly with his uncle Bernabò. He was the foundi ...
(1392). King
Martin I Martin I may refer to:
* Pope Martin I (c. 590/600–655), bishop of Rome 649–655
* Martin I (bishop of Oviedo) (died 1101)
* Martin I (archbishop of Gniezno) (died after 1112)
* Martin I of Aragon (1356–1410)
* Martin I of Sicily (1374/6–14 ...
held also his court in the castle.
Decline
After the move of the capital away from Catania and the appearance of powder weapons, the castle lost its military role and was used as a prison. It is one of the few buildings in Catania to have survived the
earthquake of 1693.
When the castle was first built, it was on a
cliff
In geography and geology, a cliff is an area of rock which has a general angle defined by the vertical, or nearly vertical. Cliffs are formed by the processes of weathering and erosion, with the effect of gravity. Cliffs are common on co ...
looking out to sea, however as the result of volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes, it is now a kilometre inland. The former
moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that is dug and surrounds a castle, fortification, building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive ...
too in the 17th century was filled with
lava
Lava is molten or partially molten rock (magma) that has been expelled from the interior of a terrestrial planet (such as Earth) or a moon onto its surface. Lava may be erupted at a volcano or through a fracture in the crust, on land or un ...
from an eruption by
Mount Etna
Mount Etna, or simply Etna ( it, Etna or ; scn, Muncibbeḍḍu or ; la, Aetna; grc, Αἴτνα and ), is an active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily, Italy, in the Metropolitan City of Catania, between the cities of Messina a ...
. Its present location, surrounded by streets and shops in a typical Catania piazza, may strike some visitors as unusual.
Present day
The castle was acquired by the city of Catania in 1932, and it was restored. The
Museo Civico' opened in the restored castle on 20 October 1934. Today, the museum houses artifacts and artwork from the castle as well as the greater geographical area. These items date from the
Classical era
Classical antiquity (also the classical era, classical period or classical age) is the period of cultural history between the 8th century BC and the 5th century AD centred on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ...
onward, representing the diverse influences throughout
Sicilian history.
[ Frequently, the castle hosts also temporary exhibitions or artistic events (theatrical representations and concerts). It is also possible to use the historical site to celebrate a civil union.
Further restoration work was carried out in November 2009.
]
Layout
The castle has a rectangular plan, with a large circular tower
A tower is a tall Nonbuilding structure, structure, taller than it is wide, often by a significant factor. Towers are distinguished from guyed mast, masts by their lack of guy-wires and are therefore, along with tall buildings, self-supporting ...
at each corner and an open-air inner court
Museum layout
Ground floor
Salone d'Armi
This houses the museum's ticket office as well as Jewish inscriptions and inscriptions from the medieval senate-house where the decision was taken to expel the city's Jewish population in 1492, including a copy of the Julia Fiorentina inscription from the Louvre
The Louvre ( ), or the Louvre Museum ( ), is the world's most-visited museum, and an historic landmark in Paris, France. It is the home of some of the best-known works of art, including the ''Mona Lisa'' and the ''Venus de Milo''. A central l ...
. It also houses a medieval keystone, a 16th-century cannon, parts of an ancient Roman mosaic showing the months, a 16th-century inscription mentioning a castellan from Toledo and a statue of Ignazio Paternò Castello Principe di Biscari, by Antonio Calì, displayed with a copy of his book ''Viaggio per le Antichità della Sicilia''.
The room is, however, named after its large collection of weapons.
File:Epigrafi giudaiche (Catania).jpg, Jewish inscriptions
File:Mosaico raffigurante i mesi.jpg, Mosaic
File:Iscrizione per la cacciata degli ebrei.jpg, Inscription on the expulsion of the Jews in 1492
Sala di raccordo nord
This room and those following it display finds from the city's Roman theatre, including a huge headless statue, a torso of Hermes and a plinth found by Biscari
Acate ( Sicilian: ''Acati'' or ''Vischiri'') is a small town and ''comune'' in the south of Sicily, Italy, part of the province of Ragusa. It is located in the Dirillo River valley, from Ragusa.
Until 1938 it was called Biscari, and its hist ...
in 1770 showing a trophy crowned by two Victories and two barbarian prisoners on its sides.
Torre delle Bandiere
This houses fragments of Roman mosaic, statue of Hercules and a plaster copy of Costanza d'Aragona's sarcophagus.
Salone delle scuderie
The main works exhibited here include:
* a mosaic of putti from the Terme Achilliane, showing them inviting you to enjoy your stay in the baths (''"Vtere Feliciter"'')
* fragment of a frieze showing Apollo and Artemis in a gigantomachy
In Greek mythology, Greek and Roman mythology, the Giants, also called Gigantes (Ancient Greek, Greek: Γίγαντες, ''Gígantes'', Γίγας, ''Gígas''), were a race of great strength and aggression, though not necessarily of great size. ...
, 3rd century AD
* male torso, dedicated to Jupiter, found near the monastery of Sant'Agostino by principe Biscari in 1737.
* statue of Hercules in a lionskin just after killing the Nemean Lion
* statue of Hercules resting, Farnese Hercules
The ''Farnese Hercules'' ( it, Ercole Farnese) is an ancient statue of Hercules, probably an enlarged copy made in the early third century AD and signed by Glykon, who is otherwise unknown; the name is Greek but he may have worked in Rome. Like ...
type, holding one of the apples of the Hesperides
In Greek mythology, the Hesperides (; , ) are the nymphs of evening and golden light of sunsets, who were the "Daughters of the Evening" or "Nymphs of the West". They were also called the Atlantides () from their reputed father, the Titan Atlas ...
* plinth with dolphins
File:Torso di Giove (Catania).jpg, Torso of Jupiter
File:Gigantomachia (Catania).jpg, Frieze of a gigantomachy
File:1345 - Catania - Castello Ursino - Bellerofronte, sec. II d.C. - Foto Giovanni Dall'Orto, 2-Oct-2007.jpg, Bellerophon, 2nd century AD
File:9828 - Heracles (2nd centuy). Castello ursino, Catania - Photo by Giovanni Dall'Orto, October 28 2016.jpg, Hercules in Lionskin, 2nd century AD
File:1344 - Catania - Castello Ursino - Apollo citardeo , sec. I d.C. - Foto Giovanni Dall'Orto, 2-Oct-2007.jpg, Apollo with a Cithara, 1st century AD
Sala
This houses displays of clay statues of subjects such as Aphrodite, a small dog fighting a cockerel, a nymph on a rock and a prehistoric head. Particularly notable is a colossal ram, whilst the most important work in the room is a fragment of a cavalryman, probably from a historiated column, found near porta Carlo V.
Torre del Sale
Named after its previous use as a storehouse for salt, it now houses a mosaic showing a head, thought to be an allegory for Africa, and a bust of an Egyptian woman.
Sala di San Giorgio / Sala della Cappella
This displays around 2000 bronze figurines, of which 1600 are from the Benedettini collection and the rest from the Biscari collection. They date to the Archaic, Siceliot, Greek, Etruscan-Italic and Hellenistic eras. It also houses a 420 BC marble relief of Demeter and Kore found on Montevergine hill in 1930 and several Greek vases such as the red-figure ''Crater with Perseus and Medusa'' from excavations in Camarina.
File:9858 - Ancient Greek bronzes. Castello ursino, Catania - Photo by Giovanni Dall'Orto, October 28 2016.jpg, Figurines
File:Demetra Castello Ursino.png, Bust of Demeter, 5th century BC
File:Cippo Carcaci (Catania), conservato al castello ursino.jpg, Carcaci cippus
A (plural: ''cippi''; "pointed pole") is a low, round or rectangular pedestal set up by the Ancient Romans for purposes such as a milestone or a boundary post. They were also used for somewhat differing purposes by the Etruscans and Carthaginians ...
Other rooms
These house inscriptions and statues, together forming the permanent "Voci di Pietra" display:
File:Epigrafe Aurelio Samohil.jpg, Inscription of Aurelius Samohil
File:1297 - Catania - Castello Ursino - Ryhton attico, 430-410 aC - Foto Giovanni Dall'Orto 2-Oct-2006.jpg, Attic rhyton
File:1304 - Catania - Castello Ursino - Cratere attico con scena di Simposio, 400-390 aC - Foto Giovanni Dall'Orto 2-Oct-2006.jpg, Attic crater with a symposium scene
File:Attic black figure lekythos.jpg, Black-figure Attic lekythos
File:9896 - Ulysses and Polyphemos, (2nd century AD) - Catania, Castello Ursino - Photo by Giovanni Dall'Orto, October 28 2016.jpg, Polyphemus and Ulysses, 2nd century AD
File:Hercules relief, marble, Sicilian Greek, 2nd century BC.JPG, Wrestlers, 2nd century AD
First Floor
Sala
This houses:
* two tomb reliefs (one for a 16th-century recipient of the Order of the Golden Fleece and the other of a sleeping figure)
*Byzantine icons
* a Limoges enamel
Limoges enamel has been produced at Limoges, in south-western France, over several centuries up to the present. There are two periods when it was of European importance. From the 12th century to 1370 there was a large industry producing metal o ...
plaque of the crucifixion
* a 'smalto' of ''The Virgin in Glory''
* ''Portrait of a Gentleman'' by El Greco
Domḗnikos Theotokópoulos ( el, Δομήνικος Θεοτοκόπουλος ; 1 October 1541 7 April 1614), most widely known as El Greco ("The Greek"), was a Greek painter, sculptor and architect of the Spanish Renaissance. "El G ...
(recently restored using funds from OperaTua)
* a 15th-century painting of ''Madonna with Saint Lucy and Saint John''
* parts of a polyptych by Antonello de Saliba
Antonio de Saliba, or Antonello de Saliba or Resaliba, (c.1466-c.1535) was an Italian painter of the Renaissance period, mainly active in Sicily and Calabria.
Born around 1466, Antonello de Saliba was the son of Giovanni Resaliba, woodcarver of p ...
from Santa Maria di Gesù church: ''Madonna and Child, St Anthony, St Francis of Assisi, Resurrection''
*''St Onufrius'' by Bernazzano.
* 17th century chess set from the Benedettini
* ''Last Supper'' by Luis de Morales
Luis de Morales (1509 – 9 May 1586) was a Spanish painter active during the Spanish Renaissance in the 16th century. Known as "El Divino", most of his work was of religious subjects, including many representations of the Madonna and Child and ...
.
Salone dei Parlamenti
This mainly houses 17th and 18th century works, including masterpieces by Matthias Stomer
Matthias Stom or Matthias Stomer (c. 1600 – after 1652) was a Dutch, or possibly Flemish, painter who is only known for the works he produced during his residence in Italy. He was influenced by the work of non-Italian followers of Caravaggio i ...
from the collection donated to the city by Giovan Battista Finocchiaro in 1826 such as ''Death of Cato'', ''Crucifixion of St Peter'', ''Suicide of Seneca'' and ''Christ Mocked''. It also displays works by Pietro Novelli
Pietro Novelli (March 2, 1603 – August 27, 1647) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active mainly in Palermo. Also known as ''il Monrealese'' or ''Pietro "Malta" Novelli'' to distinguish him from his father, Pietro Antonio Novelli I ...
such as ''St Christopher'', ''St John the Baptist'', ''Madonna and Child with St Louis of France'' and ''The Good Samaritan''. Also notable are:
* the only surviving copy of Caravaggio
Michelangelo Merisi (Michele Angelo Merigi or Amerighi) da Caravaggio, known as simply Caravaggio (, , ; 29 September 1571 – 18 July 1610), was an Italian painter active in Rome for most of his artistic life. During the final four years of hi ...
's ''Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence
''Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence'' is a painting of the nativity of Jesus from 1609 by Italian painter Caravaggio. It has been missing since 1969 when it was stolen from the Oratory of Saint Lawrence in Palermo. Investigators believe ...
'', the original of which was stolen by the Mafia and has never been recovered - the copy was produced in 1627 by Don Gaspare Orioles da Paolo Geraci.
* ''Christ at the Column'' by Mario Minniti
Mario Minniti (8 December 1577 – 22 November 1640) was an Italian artist active in Sicily after 1606.
Born in Syracuse, Sicily, he arrived in Rome in 1593, where he became the friend, collaborator, and model of the key Baroque painter Mic ...
* ''Penitent Mary Magdalene'', school of Giovanni Lanfranco
* ''St Luke Painting the Virgin Mary'' by Mattia Preti
Mattia Preti (24 February 1613 – 3 January 1699) was an Italian Baroque artist who worked in Italy and Malta. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Saint John.
Life
Born in the small town of Taverna in Calabria, Preti was called ''Il Ca ...
* ''St Catherine in Ecstacy'', previously attributed to Giulio Cesare Procaccini
Giulio Cesare Procaccini (1574–1625) was an Italian painter and sculptor of the early Baroque era in Milan.
Biography
Born in Bologna he was son of the Mannerist painter Ercole Procaccini the Elder and brother of Camillo Procaccini and Car ...
and later to Pier Francesco Mazzucchelli
Pier Francesco Mazzucchelli (commonly known as il Morazzone; 1573–1626) was an Italian painter and draughtsman who was active in Milan. He is mainly known for his altarpieces, but his outstanding achievements are large decorative frescoes ...
.
* ''Prophet'', ''St Francis with a Crucifix'' and ''Lament over the Dead Christ'' by Jusepe de Ribeira and his school
* ''Mary Magdalene'' by Andrea Vaccaro
Andrea Vaccaro (baptised on 8 May 1604 – 18 January 1670) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period. Vaccaro was in his time one of the most successful painters in Naples, a city then under Spanish rule. Very successful and valued in his l ...
* ''Three Kings'' by Simone de Wobreck
* ''St Januarius'' attributed to Francesco Solimena
Francesco Solimena (4 October 1657 – 3 April 1747) was a prolific Italian painter of the Baroque era, one of an established family of painters and draughtsmen.
Biography
Francesco Solimena was born in Canale di Serino in the province of ...
File:Matthias Stom - Morte di Catone.jpg, Matthias Stomer
Matthias Stom or Matthias Stomer (c. 1600 – after 1652) was a Dutch, or possibly Flemish, painter who is only known for the works he produced during his residence in Italy. He was influenced by the work of non-Italian followers of Caravaggio i ...
- Death of Cato
File:1293 - Catania - Castello Ursino - Mathias Stomer, Cristo deriso (ca. 1640) - Foto Giovanni Dall'Orto, 2-Oct-2007a.jpg, Matthias Stomer
Matthias Stom or Matthias Stomer (c. 1600 – after 1652) was a Dutch, or possibly Flemish, painter who is only known for the works he produced during his residence in Italy. He was influenced by the work of non-Italian followers of Caravaggio i ...
, Christ Mocked
File:Estasi di Santa Caterina da Siena (Catania), castello ursino.jpg, Morazzone
Morazzone is a ''comune'' (municipality) of c. 4,000 inhabitants in the province of Varese in the Italian region Lombardy, located about northwest of Milan and about south of Varese. It is served by Gazzada-Schianno-Morazzone railway station. ...
- Ecstacy of Saint Catherine of Siena
File:Cristo alla Colonna (Catania), castello ursino .jpg, Mario Minniti
Mario Minniti (8 December 1577 – 22 November 1640) was an Italian artist active in Sicily after 1606.
Born in Syracuse, Sicily, he arrived in Rome in 1593, where he became the friend, collaborator, and model of the key Baroque painter Mic ...
- Christ at the Column
File:San Luca (Catania), castello ursino.jpg, Mattia Preti
Mattia Preti (24 February 1613 – 3 January 1699) was an Italian Baroque artist who worked in Italy and Malta. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Saint John.
Life
Born in the small town of Taverna in Calabria, Preti was called ''Il Ca ...
- Saint Luke as a Painter
Sala
This room houses 18th century works:
* ''Coronation of Saint Agatha'', ''Death of Saint Joseph'' and ''Saint Francesco Caracciolo'', oil sketches by Marcello Leopardi
* ''Martyrdom of Saint Agatha'', oil sketch by Mariano Rossi
Mariano Rossi (7 December 1731 - 24 October 1807) was an Italian painter, persisting in what had become an anachronistic Rococo style amid an ascendant neoclassical environment. His placement legions of figures in a complex scenography and quadr ...
.
* ''Still Life with Fruit and a Landscape'' and ''Still Life with Fruit and a Fountain'' by Aniello Ascione
Aniello Ascione (''fl'' 1680 –1708) was an Italian painter of still lifes. He is regarded as an important representative of the Flemish style of Baroque still life painting and a follower of the Flemish painter Abraham Brueghel who worked in Na ...
.
* ''Landscape with Ruins'', anonymous west Italian painter, one of five paintings from Villa Scabrosa; a pair with''Naval Battle''
* ''Woman Selling Fish'' by Giuseppe Bonino (1760)
* ''Kneeling Aphrodite'', statue by a central Italian artist in classical style
* ''Mary Magdalene'', attributed to Guglielmo Borremans
Guglielmo Borremans or Guglielmo Fiamingo (1670–1744) was a Flemish painter whose documented career took principally place in Italy, in particular Naples, Cosenza and Sicily. Here he was one of the pre-eminent late-Baroque fresco painters of th ...
* ''St Agatha Before Quintianus'', wax sculpture
* ''St Agatha Crowned in Prison'', wax sculpture
* door sculpture in the style of the Gagini family
* ''Portrait of Prior Placido Scammacca'', shown holding an ancient Greek vase
* ''Birth of Venus'', small painting by Michele Rocca
* ''Birth of Adonis'', small painting Michele Rocca
File:Venditrice di pesce (Catania), castello ursino.jpg, Giuseppe Bonino - Woman Selling Fish
File:Paesaggio con rovine (Catania), castello ursino.jpg, Anon. - Landscape with Ruins
File:La Maddalena (Catania), castello ursino.jpg, Possibly Guglielmo Borremans
Guglielmo Borremans or Guglielmo Fiamingo (1670–1744) was a Flemish painter whose documented career took principally place in Italy, in particular Naples, Cosenza and Sicily. Here he was one of the pre-eminent late-Baroque fresco painters of th ...
- Mary Magdalene
Sala Michele Rapisardi
As its name suggests this room mainly displays paintings by Michele Rapisardi, including his ''The Sicilian Vespers'', ''Head of Ofelia Pazza'', a self-portrait and a study for ''Vespers''. It also houses works by Natale Attanasio
Natale Attanasio (1845 – 1923) was an Italian painter. He painted diverse subjects from period pieces, Oriental fantasies, altarpieces, portraits, and genre works, and worked both in fresco and oil.
Biography
In 1874, Attanasio won a stipend fr ...
(''Sunt Lacrima Rerum'', best known as "Le Pazze"; ''Women in the Fields''; ''Tasso and Cardinal d'Este'') and Bernardo Celentano (''Provenzan Salvani in the piazza del Campo'').
File:Autoritratto - Michele Rapisardi.JPG, Michele Rapisardi - ''Self-portrait''
File:Rapisardi - Testa di Ofelia pazza (1865).jpg, Michele Rapisardi - ''Head of Ofelia pazza''
File:Rapisardi - study for I Vespri Siciliani, 1865.jpg, Michele Rapisardi - Study for ''The Sicilian Vespers''
File:Natale Attanasio - Donne per i campi.jpg, Natale Attanasio
Natale Attanasio (1845 – 1923) was an Italian painter. He painted diverse subjects from period pieces, Oriental fantasies, altarpieces, portraits, and genre works, and worked both in fresco and oil.
Biography
In 1874, Attanasio won a stipend fr ...
- ''Women in the Fields''
File:Bernardo Celentano - "Provenzan Salvani nella piazza del Campo", 1856 c..jpg, Bernardo Celentano - ''Provenzan Salvani in the piazza del Campo''
Second floor
Sala
This houses several 19th century portraits by Rapisarda, Giuseppe Rapisardi, Giuseppe Sciuti
Giuseppe Sciuti (Zafferana Etnea, Sicily, 26 February 1834 - Rome, 13 March 1911) was an Italian painter.
Biography
His father, a pharmacist, insisted his son follow his trade. But he relented and allowed Giuseppe to study locally at age 15, and ...
, Natale Attanasio
Natale Attanasio (1845 – 1923) was an Italian painter. He painted diverse subjects from period pieces, Oriental fantasies, altarpieces, portraits, and genre works, and worked both in fresco and oil.
Biography
In 1874, Attanasio won a stipend fr ...
, Calcedonio Reina, Francesco Lojacono
Francesco Lojacono or Lo Jacono (1838–1915) was an Italian painter, mainly of landscapes and seascapes, and mainly active in his native Palermo, Sicily.
Biography
He received his early training there with his father Luigi, a history and portrai ...
, Pasquale Liotta, Domenico Morelli
Domenico Morelli (4 August 182313 August 1901) was an Italian painter, who mainly produced historical and religious works. Morelli was immensely influential in the arts of the second half of the 19th century, both as director of the Accademia di ...
, Alessandro Abate, Antonino Gandolfo and Giuseppe Gandolfo, along with a number of 18th century Chinese vases, violins produced by Andrea Amati
Andrea Amati was a luthier, from Cremona, Italy.
Amati is credited with making the first instruments of the violin family that are in the form we use today.
Several of his instruments survive to the present day, and some of them can still be p ...
, Caltagirone ceramics, 17th century bronze statuettes of Venus and Vulcan and an 18th-century bronze statuette of Perseus.
File:Ritratto della Cognata (Catania).jpg, Antonino Gandolfo - Portrait of La Cognata
File:A gandolfo musica forzata.jpg, Antonino Gandolfo - Forced Music
File:Calcedonio Reina - Love and Death.jpg, Calcedonio Reina - Love and Death
File:L'effetto dell'hashish - Pasquale Liotta.JPG, Pasquale Liotta - The Effect of Hashish
File:L'incubo di Elisabetta I (Catania).jpg, Pasquale Liotta - The Incubus of Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was Queen of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. Elizabeth was the last of the five House of Tudor monarchs and is sometimes referred to as the "Virgin Queen".
El ...
File:Pescatore (Catania).jpg, Francesco Lojacono
Francesco Lojacono or Lo Jacono (1838–1915) was an Italian painter, mainly of landscapes and seascapes, and mainly active in his native Palermo, Sicily.
Biography
He received his early training there with his father Luigi, a history and portrai ...
- Fisherman
File:La Morte del Tasso (Catania).jpg, Domenico Morelli
Domenico Morelli (4 August 182313 August 1901) was an Italian painter, who mainly produced historical and religious works. Morelli was immensely influential in the arts of the second half of the 19th century, both as director of the Accademia di ...
- The Death of Tasso
File:La Cuoca (Catania).jpg, Girolamo Induno - Woman Cooking
File:Musica Forzata (Catania).jpg, Alessandro Abate - Forced music
File:Ore felici (Catania).jpg, Michele Rapisardi - Happy Hours
File:Venere su divano verde (Catania).jpg, Michele Rapisardi - Venus on a Green Couch
File:Ritratto di Famiglia (Catania).jpg, Giuseppe Rapisardi - Family Portrait
File:1286 - Catania - Castello Ursino - Anonimo, Perseo (sec. XVI) inv 6643 - Foto Giovanni Dall'Orto 2-Oct-2006a.jpg, Perseus (16th century)
File:1280 - Catania - Castello Ursino - Ceramica di Caltagirone, sec. XVIII - Foto Giovanni Dall'Orto, 2-Oct-2007.jpg, Caltagirone ceramic, 18th century
File:1281 - Catania - Castello Ursino - Ceramica di Caltagirone, sec. XVIII - Foto Giovanni Dall'Orto, 2-Oct-2007.jpg, Caltagirone ceramic, 18th century
File:1282 - Catania - Castello Ursino - Ceramica di Caltagirone, sec. XVIII - Foto Giovanni Dall'Orto, 2-Oct-2007.jpg, Caltagirone ceramic, 18th century
Open space
This large room houses temporary exhibitions as well as sculptures, bas-reliefs, inscriptions from Certosa di Nuovaluce and an urn by the Gaginian school. A room beside it houses some of the numismatic collection and the whole Fondo Sebastiano Ittar, including engravings by Ittar showing studies of monuments and works of art in Catania.
References
{{Authority control
Ursino
Royal residences in the Kingdom of Sicily
Buildings and structures in Catania
Museums in Sicily
Local museums in Italy
13th-century establishments in Italy
Defunct prisons in Italy
Medieval Italian architecture