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Museo di Capodimonte facts for kids

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National Museum of Capodimonte
ReggiaCapodimonte.JPG
Palace of Capodimonte
Established 1757
Location Via Miano, 2
80131 Naples, Italy
Type Art museum, Historic site
Visitors 193 055(2016)

The Museo di Capodimonte is a fantastic art museum in Naples, Italy. It's inside a beautiful old palace called the Palace of Capodimonte. This palace was built by the Bourbon royal family. The museum is a top spot to see amazing paintings and decorative art from Naples. You can also find important ancient Roman sculptures here. It's one of the biggest museums in Italy. The museum officially opened its doors in 1957.

The History of Capodimonte Museum

How the Royal Palace Became a Museum

The amazing art collection at the Museo di Capodimonte started a long time ago, in 1738. King Charles VII of Naples and Sicily (who later became Charles III of Spain) first wanted to build a hunting lodge on Capodimonte hill.

But then, he changed his mind. He decided to build a grand palace instead. One reason was that his current home, the Palace of Portici, was too small for his royal court. The other big reason was to house the incredible Farnese Collection. This collection of art was inherited from his mother, Elisabetta Farnese. She was the last person from the royal family of Parma.

Over many years, the palace grew bigger and more art was added. In 1787, a special workshop was created to fix and restore paintings.

Art During Times of Change

In 1799, there was a big change in Naples called the Parthenopaean Republic. King Ferdinand IV had to leave Naples and sail to Palermo. He took the most valuable art pieces with him to keep them safe.

French soldiers then took over the palace and stole some of the art that was left behind. Later, from 1806 to 1815, the French ruled Naples. During this time, the art collection was moved to the Naples National Archaeological Museum.

When King Ferdinand came back in 1815, he hired many artists to redecorate the palace. It was finally finished in 1840. A new section was added to show modern art.

New Art and a National Museum

In 1861, the palace became part of the House of Savoy family. They added even more art to the collections. They also brought in a large collection of old firearms and other weapons.

In 1866, a special room called the boudoir of Maria Amalia of Saxony was moved to Capodimonte from the Palace of Portici. In 1877, an ancient Roman marble floor was brought from a Roman villa on Capri.

After the monarchy ended, the palace officially became a national museum in 1950. Many of the art pieces that had been moved were brought back to Capodimonte.

What You Can See at the Museum

The National Gallery of Art

The first and second floors of the museum hold the Galleria Nazionale, which means National Gallery. Here, you can see paintings from the 13th to the 18th centuries. There are famous works by artists like Caravaggio, Raphael, Titian, El Greco, Giovanni Bellini, and many others.

This museum is the best place to see paintings from the Neapolitan School. These are artworks made by artists from Naples. You'll find many pieces by Jusepe de Ribera and Luca Giordano.

Ancient Sculptures and Royal Rooms

On the ground floor, you'll find a large part of the amazing Farnese collection. This includes many ancient Roman sculptures. These sculptures are still mostly complete and can be seen here and at the Naples National Archaeological Museum.

In other parts of the palace, you can explore the royal apartments. These rooms are decorated with beautiful 18th-century furniture. There's also a collection of porcelain and majolica (a type of pottery) from the royal homes.

In 2022, an art dealer named Lia Rumma gave more than 70 artworks to the Italian government. These pieces, made by 30 important Italian artists, are now shown at the Museo di Capodimonte.

Amazing Art Highlights

See also

  • List of largest art museums
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