Fondazione Torlonia

presents

The Antiquarium

To celebrate its ten years of activity, the Fondazione Torlonia, an institution founded by Prince Alessandro Torlonia to systematically study and preserve ancient art,

opens to the public the space within the Scuderie of Villa Albani Torlonia

showcasing some extraordinary masterpieces recently restored.

A selection of works curated by Carlo Gasparri to introduce

the work of studying and enhancing the most important collection of ancient art in the world,

produced by the Torlonia Laboratories with the support of Bulgari

and to share a reflection on the contemporary conservation of ancient marbles.

March 28 – June 28, 2024

Scuderie of Villa Albani Torlonia, Rome

Via Salaria 96

www.fondazionetorlonia.org

 

Rome, March 26, 2024. From March 28 to June 28, 2024, the Fondazione Torlonia celebrates its first 10 years of activity by opening the Antiquarium, a space within the Scuderie of Villa Albani Torlonia, which for this occasion hosts the exhibition, curated by Carlo Gasparri, of a group of sculptures from the collection recently restored, thanks to the support of Bulgari and the collaboration of the Special Superintendence of Rome at the Torlonia Laboratories, which have been working for years to study, restore, and enhance the extraordinary heritage of the most important private collection of ancient art in the world.

The emeritus professor of the University of Federico II of Naples and member of the Accademia dei Lincei has chosen for the exhibition a group of recently restored marbles, among which stands out a spectacular group featuring Eros on a biga drawn by wild boars, originally kept in the Villa and later in the Torlonia Museum, allowing one to perceive decorative solutions and taste trends no longer represented by the archaeological collections of Villa Albani Torlonia and to reflect on the issue of interpreting and restoring the Ancient.

“The works of the Torlonia Collection and Villa Albani Torlonia have always been carefully preserved under the aegis of the Family first and later the Foundation, using a selected group of trusted restorers and technicians and under the high supervision of the Ministry of Culture, with which the project management criteria have been shared,” recalls Alessandro Poma Murialdo. “Two extraordinary artistic complexes destined to meet over the course of history, carefully preserved under the aegis of the same Family, through a constant and scrupulous protective activity that the Foundation has continued over the years, achieving important results: the opening of the Torlonia Laboratories for the study and restoration of the over six hundred Torlonia marbles and the innovative conservation program of Villa Albani Torlonia, which concerns the monumental architectural complex with the works of the ancient and medieval collections and the historic gardens.

Ten years are thus an important milestone that we want to celebrate by providing the opportunity to see for free the selection of works chosen by Professor Gasparri with great synthesis of the multitude that makes up the collection. The Antiquarium maintains a strong link with the city of Rome and allows us to enhance the daily work that restorers carry out to preserve this heritage, which is central to the commitment that the Foundation intends to carry forward with long-term projects.”

Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO of Bulgari, further explains how “The bond between Bvlgari and the Fondazione Torlonia is deep. It started in 2017 when we proudly began supporting the Foundation in restoring 92 works. Today, we are proud to continue this journey with the Fondazione Torlonia and be by their side on the occasion of their 10 years of activity. It is a privilege to contribute to showcasing the meticulous restoration of what remains the most important private collection of ancient art in the world.”

The exhibition features some examples of animal figures such as the Eagle, the Stag, as well as portrait busts like that of the Unknown (c.d. Balbino) or Unknown (c.d. Otone), the herm with the head from the Philoumenos group, and the Herm of Alcibiades. Also on display are Milone Crotoniate, a female statue with two amphorae, the bas-relief with a copy of Eros on a biga, and an extraordinary African marble Bath in dialogue.

These are “some of the most significant works preserved in the Torlonia Museum and from Villa Albani, now temporarily returning to the villa to be presented to the public in their original setting: works that were part of the natural environment of the garden,” explains curator Carlo Gasparri, who also describes how “these selected specimens allow us to perceive decorative solutions and taste trends no longer represented in the villa; in some cases showing how they were subject to significant integrative interventions upon their arrival at the Torlonia Museum.”

The exhibition thus opens a reflection on the change in attitude, between the 18th and 19th centuries, towards the interpretation and representation of the Ancient, and on the problems faced by modern restorers to reconcile the reading of these phenomena with a unified view of the work.

To delve into this topic and foster a debate on contemporary conservation practices for ancient marbles, the exhibition in June will be accompanied by several meetings with Anna Maria Carruba, Curator of the Torlonia Collections, and the group of restorers and technicians who have shared in the various restoration projects.

The Antiquarium will be open from Monday to Saturday, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, excluding public holidays.

Entrance from Via Salaria, 96 - Rome