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 * * {{authority control Cagliari Archeologico Nazionale Cagliari Buildings and structures in Cagliari National museums of Italy