A selection of paintings never before presented to the public is emerging from the storerooms of the State Museum of the Republic of San Marino. On Saturday, 31 October at 5pm, the exhibition cycle “I mai visti del Museo di Stato. Nuove acquisizioni” (“The Unseen Works of the State Museum: New Acquisitions”) opens: four appointments, spaced two weeks apart, each accompanied by a lecture and a guided tour with art historian Roberta Aliventi, curator of the project.
At the heart of this initiative by the Cultural Institutes are recently acquired works that, in almost every case, are not yet part of the permanent exhibition. “With the initiative ‘The Unseen Works of the State Museum,’ the Cultural Institutes of the Republic of San Marino are bringing to public attention a precious and, until now, unexplored part of their heritage,” the statement reads.
The project stems from research into paintings dating from the 16th to the 19th century, which belonged to the vast art collection of the Fondazione San Marino Cassa di Risparmio – SUMS, acquired as state property in 2019. Over the past year, the Museum has carried out a systematic study of this body of work, including the scientific cataloguing of the entire collection.
The aim is to make part of the heritage held in storage accessible to the public. “Showcasing these works provides a valuable key to reconstructing the history of a cultural institution, understanding its stages of development and defining its identity,” the organisers explain.
Myth, allegory, the sacred and everyday life are the themes of the four chapters that make up the exhibition path. Each session presents a group of works through which visitors can observe the subjects, techniques and stylistic choices of the various artists.
“The limited number of pieces encourages a slow, engaged viewing experience, inviting visitors to pause over the specificity of each painting and grasp the intricate web of relationships they are meant to build.”
The programme opens on 31 October with “L’età degli Dei: racconti dal mondo antico” (“The Age of the Gods: Tales from the Ancient World”). On 14 November, the focus shifts to Simone Cantarini and a face described as “beautiful, full of grace.”
On 28 November, it will be the turn of “Le figure della fede tra eroismo, devozione ed estasi” (“Figures of Faith between Heroism, Devotion and Ecstasy”), while the cycle concludes on 12 December with “L’incanto del quotidiano” (“The Enchantment of Everyday Life”).
All meetings and guided tours will take place at the State Museum at 5pm, with free admission.
