The Museo di Capodimonte, or Museum of Capodimonte, is an art museum in Naples, Campania. Located in the Palazzo di Capodimonte, originally a hunting lodge and summer residence of the kings of the Two Sicilies, it brings together Neapolitan, Italian and ancient Roman art and decorative art.
The National Gallery occupies the first and second floors and the royal apartments elsewhere in the building are furnished with 18th century furniture and a collection of porcelain from the various royal residences.
Find a holiday rental in Naples and plan a visit!
The National Gallery occupies the first and second floors and the royal apartments elsewhere in the building are furnished with 18th century furniture and a collection of porcelain from the various royal residences.
Find a holiday rental in Naples and plan a visit!
The origins of the building and collection are one and the same. In 1738, the King of Naples and Sicily, Charles VII, commissioned a palace outside Naples as a summer getaway. He was also in need of somewhere to store the massive Farnese art collection that he had inherited from his mother – this would go on to form the basis of the collection as it exists in the gallery today. Angelo Carasale, Giovanni Antonio Medrano and Antonio Canevari were hired to oversee the project but work went slowly due to difficulties in transporting materials and upheavals in the protagonists lives. Part of the building was opened in 1758 and the collection was moved in.
Around this time the architect, Ferdinando Fuga was brought in to work on the palace and the grounds. A laboratory for the restoration of paintings was added in 1787.
Ferdinand was forced to flee in 1799 and took the most valuable pieces with him. Looting took place in his absence and the collection was finally sent to the National Archaeological Museum. When Ferdinand finally returned he employed a large team of artists to decorate once more. Francesco I, his successor, oversaw work until the palace was finally completed in 1840. He also added a gallery of contemporary works.
The palace was owned by the Savoys for a time, who also added to its holdings until it eventually became property of the Italian state in 1920. In 1950, it became a museum and works were returned from the National Museum.
The collection is now comprised of works from the 13th to the 18th centuries with Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio, Masaccio, Giovanni Bellini, Vasari and El Greco all being represented. It is, undoubtedly, the best place in the world to see the works of the Neapolitan school. The museum is also a great place to see antique works as the Farnese pieces now occupy much of the ground floor of the building.
Built in the woods with beautiful gardens surrounding, the Museo di Capodimonte is a lovely place to spend a day getting some fresh air and enjoying some wonderful art and architecture. Open every day from 8.30 to 19.30, make sure to pay a visit if you're ever in Campania!
Ferdinand was forced to flee in 1799 and took the most valuable pieces with him. Looting took place in his absence and the collection was finally sent to the National Archaeological Museum. When Ferdinand finally returned he employed a large team of artists to decorate once more. Francesco I, his successor, oversaw work until the palace was finally completed in 1840. He also added a gallery of contemporary works.
The palace was owned by the Savoys for a time, who also added to its holdings until it eventually became property of the Italian state in 1920. In 1950, it became a museum and works were returned from the National Museum.
The collection is now comprised of works from the 13th to the 18th centuries with Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio, Masaccio, Giovanni Bellini, Vasari and El Greco all being represented. It is, undoubtedly, the best place in the world to see the works of the Neapolitan school. The museum is also a great place to see antique works as the Farnese pieces now occupy much of the ground floor of the building.
Built in the woods with beautiful gardens surrounding, the Museo di Capodimonte is a lovely place to spend a day getting some fresh air and enjoying some wonderful art and architecture. Open every day from 8.30 to 19.30, make sure to pay a visit if you're ever in Campania!
