Galleria Nazionale di Parma

The Galleria Nazionale di Parma occupies part of the Palazzo della Pilotta. Its paintings and sculpture reflect the collecting histories of the Farnese, the Bourbons and Maria Luigia, alongside the development of a public art gallery.

Why it matters

The gallery grew in connection with the Ducale Accademia di Belle Arti, founded in 1752 under Filippo di Borbone. Works retained from earlier princely collections were joined by acquisitions and art from religious institutions, creating a collection with several historical sources rather than a single dynastic origin.

What to notice

Major works include Correggio's Madonna di San Girolamo, known as Il Giorno, Leonardo's unfinished La Scapigliata and Parmigianino's portrait called La Schiava Turca. Canova's Maria Luigia as Concordia gives a sculptural form to ducal representation. The historic halls and later museum architecture provide different settings for these works.

Context and history

The transfer of much of the Farnese collection to Naples in 1734 preceded the Academy's development. Maria Luigia's acquisitions and the creation of the Sala Ovale and Sala delle Colonne in 1821–1825 expanded the public collection. Corrado Ricci's late-nineteenth-century reordering and Guido Canali's later redesign added further layers to the museum's history.