OVERVIEW

The course delves into the history of collecting in particular in Italy during the Modern Age, through the presentation of significant episodes, with particular attention to the phenomenon of collecting paintings and the relationship between different types of artefacts, such as the relationship - highlighted by some case studies - between book collections and art collecting. Significant case studies of Italian and European modern age collections will be presented.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Aim of the teaching is to acquire knowledge on the phenomenon of art collecting in Italy and Europe in the period between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries and on the methods of investigation used to reconstruct its history.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course, the student will be able to

- describe aspects of art collecting from a historical perspective

- identify and understand the relationships between collections of art objects and cultural phenomena in the Modern Age

- autonomously gather and interpret sources for the history of collecting in the Modern Age

PREREQUISITES

A good knowledge of history and art history of the Modern Age is necessary to deal effectively with the teaching content.

TEACHING METHODS

Classes will be held in presence and may include some teaching excursions.

Attendance in presence, where possible, is recommended.

Please remember to subscribe to the Aulaweb of the course, which is an indispensable tool for communication and access to useful materials for study and for the final exam.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course program includes the presentation and discussion of the following topics:

Art collecting in Italy in the Modern Age:

- Sources, tools and methods of investigation

- Analysis of case studies referring to events significant to the evolution of the phenomenon

- antiquarian collecting and collections between the 15th and 17th centuries;

- picture galleries in the Baroque age;

- 'minor' collecting in the 17th century;

- Book collections and libraries in the modern age;

- The relationship between book collections, art collecting and artistic production in Genoa

- Case studies (single collections of the modern age in the Italian and European context)

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

C. De Benedictis, Per la storia del collezionismo italiano. Fonti e documenti, prima ed. Firenze 1991

Patrizia Cavazzini, La diffusione della pittura nella Roma di primo Seicento: collezionisti ordinari e mercanti, in “Quaderni Storici”, 2004, pp. 353-374.

M.T. Fiorio, Il museo nella storia. Dallo "studiolo" alla raccolta pubblica, Milano, Mondadori, 2011

I Segreti di un collezionista. Le straordinarie raccolte di Cassiano dal Pozzo, De Luca, Roma 2002.

G. Montanari, Libri Dipinti Statue. Rapporti e relazioni tra le raccolte librarie, il collezionismo e la produzione artistica a Genova tra XVI e XVII, GUP (Genova University Press), Genova 2015.

F. Haskell, Mecenati e pittori. L’arte e la società italiana in epoca barocca, Einaudi, Torino 2020.

Additional and specific bibliography useful for the preparation of individual case studies will be provided during the course.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

September 2025

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The examination consists of an oral test in which the student has to demonstrate his knowledge of the history of collecting and to critically discuss problems related to the use of the sources.

The examination consists of answering questions posed by the teacher on topics covered during the course.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam will be conducted by means of an oral test that will test: the knowledge and understanding of the bibliography; the ability to make connections between the topics covered; the capacity for criticism and personal reflection.

Details on how to prepare for the exam and the degree of depth required for each topic will be provided during the lectures.

The exam will verify the effective acquisition of the knowledge of  the history of the museum, from its origins to contemporary manifestations. Open questions will be used to assess the ability to apply theoretical knowledge to individual practical cases. The student should be able to critically link and explain the topics covered in the lectures. The ability to explain the topics clearly and with correct terminology will also be assessed.

The method of assessing the degree of learning achieved takes into account the following scale of values:

1. in the case where the student, through an expressive mastery, demonstrates that he/she has deeply understood the texts proposed, the periodizations addressed and the themes presented in class through an organic vision, the exam will be evaluated with marks between very good and excellent (from 28 to 30 with honours);

2. a purely mnemonic knowledge (i.e. without deep understanding), superficial analysis and correct but not always appropriate language will lead to a mark between good (25-27) and satisfactory (23-24);

3. approximate knowledge, superficial understanding and inappropriate modes of expression may be considered sufficient (18-22);

4. gaps in knowledge, inappropriate language, lack of orientation within the bibliographic materials and themes presented in class will be evaluated negatively.