Gallerie d’Italia of Milan presents The Torlonia Marbles. Collecting Masterpieces: 96 marbles from the Torlonia Collection, the most important private collection of classical sculptures. The Milan event is a major exhibition which, after Rome, opens the Collection’s exhibition programme at leading international museums, presenting five new works. Curated by Salvatore Settis and Carlo Gasparri, the exhibition was made possible thanks to an agreement between Fondazione Torlonia and the Italian Ministry of Culture - with the Direzione Generale Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio and the Soprintendenza Speciale Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio di Roma - an authentic example of public and private sector collaboration for the promotion of culture.

The exhibition consists of six sections which, going back in time, analyse the history of the collection of antiquities in Rome between the 15th and 19th centuries, an aspect with regard to which the sculptures of the Torlonia Museum are extremely relevant. The Collection was born from the Torlonia Family’s passion for collecting antiquities, which came to complete fruition in Fondazione Torlonia, set up with the aim of preserving and promoting the “Family’s cultural heritage for humanity”, and passing it onto the future generations.

Visitors are welcomed by the majestic consular sarcophagus of via Ardeatina, with a group of Roman togati, in the airy spaces of the Gallerie, location of the colossal Dacian prisoner, similar to those of Trajan’s Forum, and the recently restored portraits of Domitian and Antinous, part of the Collection’s famous gallery of 122 busts. The exhibition concludes with a section entirely dedicated to restorations where the Hercules consisting of 112 fragments dialogues with the sculpture of Leda and the Swan: the various phases of the restoration projects are visible in both works, underlining the challenges faced by contemporary restorers.

Gallerie d’Italia decided to support this important conservation project by contributing to the restoration of the consular sarcophagus and the sculpture of Leda which open and close the exhibition in such an eye-catching way. As main sponsor, Bulgari contributed to the restoration of the works already on display in Rome.

The production and organisation of the exhibition is coordinated by Electa, also publisher of the catalogue. Graphic design project by Studio Leonardo Sonnoli.

The Torlonia Marbles. Collecting Masterpieces 

Leda and the Swan. Restoration process.

Consular sarcophagus. Restoration process.