The Civic Museum il Correggio (''Museo Civico il Correggio'') is a museum in Correggio, Emilia-Romagna,

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 is located in the piano nobile of the former Palazzo dei Principi.

History of the palace

The Palazzo dei Principi was initially constructed starting 1508, as the home of , widow of the Count . After the end of the Correggio family, the palace became the home of ministers appointed by the Este rulers. By the 19th century, the palace had become dilapidated, and the entire east wing was razed to build the Contarelli orphanage. A major reconstruction and refurbishment was commissioned by the Commune and pursued under the architect from 1925 to 1927. Further refurbishments did not come until 1966–68, including a reorganization of the historic archives, and in 1971 with the opening of a new library. The museum was founded in 1995, only to close the following October 1996 due to a local earthquake. The archive and library were not both restored until 2004.

History of the collections

With the plunder and dispersal of the art and furnishings of the Princes of Collegio, the first collection that the commune could assemble was a series of Flemish tapestries that were protected. In 1786, these were exhibited in the buildings formerly belonging to the Padri Scolopi. In 1813, the commune was able to collect a number of historical portraits from various families. They would assemble collections of works by local engravers such as

Giuseppe Asioli Giuseppe is the Italian form of the given name Joseph, from Latin Iōsēphus from Ancient Greek Ἰωσήφ (Iōsḗph), from Hebrew יוסף. It is the most common name in Italy and is unique (97%) to it. The feminine form of the name is Giuse ...

, Samuele Jesi, Delfino Delfini (1802-1843), and

Francesco Redenti Francesco Redenti (1820–1876) was an Italian painter of the 19th century. He was born in Correggio and was employed in drawing caricatures for the satirical magazine '' Il Fischietto''. He died at Turin Turin ( , Piedmontese language, Pi ...

. In 1859, the mayor Ferdinando Asioli, reorganized a series of canvasses that were copies of works by

Antonio Correggio Antonio Allegri da Correggio (August 1489 – 5 March 1534), usually known as just Correggio (, also , , ), was the foremost painter of the Parma school of the High Italian Renaissance, who was responsible for some of the most vigorous and sens ...

, previously owned by Ercole Scarabelli. Asioli was also able to obtain a large series of engravings by

Paolo Toschi Paolo Toschi (1788 – 30 July 1854) was an Italian draughtsman and engraver. He was born in Parma. Biography He trained in Paris under Charles Clément Balvay (Bervic), and first made a reputation by a fine etching of ''Henry IV'', after Gérard ...

. Other works would enter the collection after the suppression of religious orders and from deconsecrated local churches.Museum history and collections
/ref> Among highlights of the present collections are *''il Redentore'' (1493) by Andrea Mantegna *''Volto di Cristo'', ''Pietà'' and a drawing by Correggio *''Madonna del Rosario'' by Francesco Madonnina *Flemish tapestries (Late 15th century) woven in Brussels in the workshop of Cornelius Mattens *Coin collection of the Correggio mint *Fortepiano owned by

Bonifazio Asioli Bonifazio Asioli (30 April 176926 May 1832) was an Italian composer of classical and church music. Biography Born in Correggio, Asioli was a child prodigy, commencing his study of music at five years of age, and having composed several masses and ...

References

External links

Official website
{{coord, 44.77036, 10.78014, format=dms, type:landmark_region:IT, display=title Museums in Emilia-Romagna Art museums and galleries in Italy Art museums established in 1796 1796 establishments in Italy Buildings and structures in the Province of Reggio Emilia