Antiquarium

On March 28th 2024, the Torlonia Foundation celebrated its first 10 years of activity by opening the Antiquarium, a space within the Stables of Villa Albani Torlonia, which for the occasion hosts the exhibition, curated by Carlo Gasparri, of a group of sculptures from the collection recently restored in the Torlonia Laboratories, which, thanks to the support of Bulgari and the collaboration of the Special Superintendence of Rome, have been working for years to study, restore, and enhance the extraordinary heritage of the world's most important private collection of ancient art. The emeritus professor of the University Federico II of Naples and Academic of the Lincei has selected for the exhibition a group of recently restored marbles, among which stands out a spectacular group with Eros on a chariot drawn by wild boars, originally kept in the Villa and subsequently in the Torlonia Museum, allowing to perceive decorative solutions and trends in taste no longer represented by the archaeological collections of Villa Albani Torlonia and to reflect on the problem 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 subsequently of the Foundation, relying on a selected group of restorers and trusted technicians and under the high surveillance of the Ministry of Culture, with whom the criteria for conducting projects have been shared," recalls Alessandro Poma Murialdo.

Two extraordinary artistic complexes destined to meet throughout history, preserved with care under the aegis of the same Family, through constant and scrupulous conservation activities that the Foundation has continued over the years, achieving important results: the opening of the Torlonia Laboratories for the study and restoration of over six hundred Torlonia marbles and the innovative conservation program of Villa Albani Torlonia, which concerns the monumental architectural complex with works from ancient and medieval collections and the historic gardens. Ten years are therefore an important milestone that we want to celebrate by giving the opportunity to freely see the selection of works chosen by Professor Gasparri with great synthesis skills from the multitude that makes up the collection.

The Antiquarium maintains a strong connection with the city of Rome and allows us to enhance the daily work that restorers carry out to preserve this heritage that is central to the commitment that the Foundation intends to pursue with long-term projects."