Galleria Estense

Galleria Estense of Modena is one of the oldest and most important National Galleries in Italy. It is a vast art gallery enriched by a remarkable graphic collection (featuring sketches, print arts, and xylographical matrixes) an exclusive selection of old and modern sculptures, a significant set of decorative arts (metal, glass, ivory, majolica, ceramic and furniture) and one of the widest numismatic collections in the World. The selection comes from the beautiful collections of the Este, the formerly marquises, then dukes of Ferrara, who moved to Modena in 1598. The collections reflect the eclectic and polished tastes of the Estes, who where not only interested in painting and sculpture, but also in antiquities and decorative arts. The core of the gallery is the most significant part, mostly featuring masterpieces by Emilia region’s painters from XIV to century, such as Cosmè Tura, Correggio, Carracci, Guercino and Guido Reni. The collections were enriched by cardinal Alessandro d’Este’s legacy and, thanks to the duke Francesco I, two of the greatest masterpieces of the Gallery were added: the painting of his portrait by Diego Velasquez and the beautiful marble bust of Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Subsequent to the dramatic era of the Napoleonic dispossessions, the collection was enriched even more, through donations, legacies and purchases, among others, the one of the Obizzi collection in 1822. A renewed Galleria Estense was reopened to public in 1894 and it was cured by one of the major art historian in Italy: Adolfo Venturi. The museum persevered through his activity of acquisitions, which were mostly aimed to reunite and recovery the old Este’s heritage. The current look of the gallery is the renewal of significant museographic reorganization, cured by the architect Leone Pancaldi.