The National Archaeological Museum of
Cagliari ( it, Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Cagliari, italic=no) is a museum in
Cagliari,
Sardinia
Sardinia ( ; it, Sardegna, label=Italian, Corsican and Tabarchino ; sc, Sardigna , sdc, Sardhigna; french: Sardaigne; sdn, Saldigna; ca, Sardenya, label=Algherese and Catalan) is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after ...
(
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 ...
).
The museum houses findings from the pre-Nuragic and
Nuragic age to the
Byzantine age. These include a large collection of prehistoric
bronze statuettes from the Nuragic age, some earlier stone statuettes of female divinities, reconstruction of a Phoenician settlement, the
Nora Stone, Carthaginian goldsmith examples, Roman and Italic ceramics and Byzantine jewels.
The museum houses a valuable collection of
wax anatomical model
A wax sculpture is a depiction made using a waxy substance. Often these are effigies, usually of a notable individual, but there are also death masks and scenes with many figures, mostly in relief.
The properties of beeswax make it an excell ...
s made in Florence by the sculptor
Clemente Susini
Clemente Michelangelo Susini (1754–1814) was an Italian sculptor who became renowned for his wax anatomical models, vividly and accurately depicting partly dissected corpses. These models were praised by both doctors and artists.
Biography
C ...
from dissections by the anatomist
Francesco Antonio Boi
Francesco Antonio Boi (1767 – 15 May 1850) was a Sardinian physician and professor of anatomy.
He is known for his work with the sculptor Clemente Susini in preparing highly detailed and accurate wax anatomical models.
Birth and education
Franc ...
between 1801 and 1805. The collection is housed in a pentagonal room. Preparation of the models was funded by
Charles Felix (1765-1831), the younger brother of King
Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia
Victor Emmanuel I (Vittorio Emanuele; 24 July 1759 – 10 January 1824) was the Duke of Savoy and King of Sardinia (1802–1821).
Biography
Victor Emmanuel was the second son of King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia and Maria Antonia Ferdinand ...
(1759-1824), and the collection was originally held in his Museum of Natural History and Antiquities - these were transferred to the
University of Cagliari
The University of Cagliari ( it, Università degli Studi di Cagliari) is a university in Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy. It was founded in 1606 and is organized in 11 faculties.
History
The ''Studium Generalis Kalaritanum'' was founded in 1606 alon ...
in 1858, then to the museum in 1991.
The museum itself was formerly an armory. After falling into disrepair, the building was rebuilt by Italian architect
Libero Cecchini
Libero Cecchini (28 September 1919 – 20 April 2020) was an Italian architect. He specialized in restoration of monuments and the design of residential complexes.
Biography
Cecchini was born in Pastrengo into a family of stonemasons. He studied ...
.
References
Citations
Sources
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Cagliari
Archeologico Nazionale Cagliari
Buildings and structures in Cagliari
National museums of Italy