Giovanni Barracco Museum Showcases Ancient Sculpture Collection in Rome
The Museo di Scultura Antica Giovanni Barracco in Rome houses a significant collection of ancient sculptures assembled by Giovanni Barracco, a Calabrian baron, between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Located in a 16th-century architectural setting near Piazza Navona and Campo de' Fiori, the museum features around 400 high-quality works and fragments spanning Egyptian, Assyrian, Cypriot, Etruscan, Greek, and Roman art, with some medieval examples. Highlights include Cypriot artifacts that bridge Eastern and Greek influences, Greek sculptures with copies from masters like Myron and Phidias, and Roman pieces such as portraits and a relief fragment. The site also contains a Roman house dating to the 4th century AD in its basement, offering insights into ancient domestic life.
Key facts
- The museum was founded by Giovanni Barracco, a noble from Calabria, in the late 1800s to early 1900s.
- It is situated in a 16th-century building in Rome, between Piazza Navona and Campo de' Fiori.
- The collection includes approximately 400 ancient sculptures from multiple civilizations, including Egyptian, Assyrian, Cypriot, Etruscan, Greek, and Roman.
- Notable items feature Cypriot art as a cultural link, Greek copies from classical artists, and Roman artifacts like a Mars head and Palmyrene steles.
- A Roman house from the 4th century AD is preserved in the museum's underground area.
Entities
Artists
Institutions
- Museo di Scultura Antica Giovanni Barracco
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Palmyra
- Syria
- Cyprus