Type:

Luoghi della cultura; Ente/Istituzione

Category:

Archaeology museums

The Casino Nobile of Villa Torlonia is the result of a series of expansions of a small country building constructed in the first half of the 18th century for Cardinal Benedetto Pamphilj. However, its current appearance was decided by Prince Alessandro Torlonia who entrusted its refurbishment in 1832 to the architect and painter Giovan Battista Caretti. The first two floors of the building were completely decorated by different artists of the period, including P. Paoletti, D. Tojetti, L. Massabò, F. Coghetti, P. Galli, F. Podesti, L. Cochetti, L. Fioron and different young artists of the B. Thorvaldsen circle. They also contain the collection of antique and modern sculpture works that the Torlonia family purchased mainly from the collection of Bartolomeo Cavaceppi in 1800. Particularly interesting are three reliefs by Antonio Canova: Socrate che beve la cicuta, La morte di Priamo, La danza dei Feaci. The Museum of the Roman School which is situated on the last floor of Casino Nobile preserves about 150 works, in part donated and in part loaned for use by artists’ heirs and collectors. The works – paintings, graphic works, sculptures – represent the artistic and cultural phenomenon known as the Roman School, which developed in Rome in the period between the two wars (1918-1945).