An old factory is not where one might expect to find masterpieces from antiquity and, yet, that is exactly what you will discover with a vacation rental in Rome if you head to Centrale Montemartini, a new exhibition space for the Musei Capitolini.
Located in the former Giovanni Montemartini Thermoelectric Centre – formerly the first public electricity plant in the city – it began hosting works from the museum's collection in 1997, when hundreds of sculptures were temporarily placed there in order to allow for reconstruction of the Capitoline buildings. They were not simply deposited in the old factory, however, but remained accessible to the public in a special exhibition that took the surroundings into consideration and made the setting a part of the exhibition itself. Entitled “The Machines and the Gods”, it presented classical art alongside industrial archaeology in an atmospheric contrast.
This temporary solution became public, however, in 2005 when part of the sculptural collection was returned to the Campidoglio and the factory became home to some of the museum's most recent acquisitions. The space offered an opportunity to experiment with display methods and a fascinating chance to compare the ancient city at very different times throughout its history. It was also part of a wider project to redefine the Ostiense Marconi area and to convert the oldest industrial area of Rome into a flourishing cultural centre.
A fascinating temporary fix that resulted in a striking display, the industrial concrete, dark machinery and shiny chrome makes for a very visually appealing backdrop for the pale and elegant statues of Hera, Athena, Artemis, Aphrodite, Achilles holding a dying Penthesilea and others. It is quite unlike anything most have seen before and a rather unique museum experience that is a must for art and history lovers who are exploring the capital of Italy.
This temporary solution became public, however, in 2005 when part of the sculptural collection was returned to the Campidoglio and the factory became home to some of the museum's most recent acquisitions. The space offered an opportunity to experiment with display methods and a fascinating chance to compare the ancient city at very different times throughout its history. It was also part of a wider project to redefine the Ostiense Marconi area and to convert the oldest industrial area of Rome into a flourishing cultural centre.
A fascinating temporary fix that resulted in a striking display, the industrial concrete, dark machinery and shiny chrome makes for a very visually appealing backdrop for the pale and elegant statues of Hera, Athena, Artemis, Aphrodite, Achilles holding a dying Penthesilea and others. It is quite unlike anything most have seen before and a rather unique museum experience that is a must for art and history lovers who are exploring the capital of Italy.
Photo credit: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra / CC BY 2.0
