Sabauda Gallery

The Sabauda Gallery in Turin represents an exceptional example of the collecting passion of the House of Savoy and the artistic richness of Italy and Europe. Founded on October 2, 1832 by the will of Carlo Alberto di Savoia, the gallery is one of the most important art galleries in Italy, hosting over 700 paintings ranging from the 13th to the 20th century. The origin of the collection dates back to the second half of the 16th century, when Emanuele Filiberto transferred the capital of the duchy to Turin. From that moment, the Savoy family began to collect works of art, gradually expanding the collection through purchases and donations. The Savoy’s passion for art, already known in Europe in 1590 thanks to the flattering comments of the painter Giovan Paolo Lomazzo, helped make the Sabauda Gallery a reference point for European art. The gallery, initially housed in Palazzo Madama, moved in 1865 to the Palazzo dell’Accademia delle Scienze. In 1933, on the occasion of the centenary of the institution, it took on the current name of Galleria Sabauda. The growth of the collection was favored by important donations, such as that of the industrialist from Biella, Riccardo Gualino, in 1930. In the following years, the architect Piero Sanpaolesi and the superintendent Noemi Gabrielli oversaw a complete reorganization, considered one of the masterpieces of Italian museology after World War II. The current headquarters, inaugurated in 2014, is located in the Manica Nuova of the Royal Palace, an architectural structure built between the 19th and 20th centuries by Emilio Stramucci. The transfer was necessary due to the growing space requirements and the need to adapt to modern museum technologies. The new headquarters offers a chronological exhibition path, allowing visitors to appreciate the evolution of art from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. The Sabauda Gallery boasts a vast collection of Piedmontese works, with artists such as Giovanni Martino Spanzotti, Macrino d’Alba, Gerolamo Giovenone, Bernardino Lanino, il Moncalvo, Tanzio da Varallo, Gaudenzio Ferrari, and Defendente Ferrari. The collection also includes masterpieces by great Italian masters such as Beato Angelico, Duccio di Boninsegna, Piero del Pollaiolo, Andrea Mantegna, Bronzino, Filippino Lippi, Daniele da Volterra, il Veronese, Tintoretto, Guercino, Orazio Gentileschi, Giambattista Tiepolo, Guido Reni, and Bernardo Bellotto. Special attention is given to Flemish and Dutch painting, with works by Van Dyck, Rubens, Rembrandt, the Brueghel family, Hans Memling, and Jan van Eyck. Among the most significant pieces are Hans Memling’s “Passion of Christ,” Rembrandt’s “Portrait of an Old Man,” and Orazio Gentileschi’s “The Annunciation.” A particularly interesting aspect of the Sabauda Gallery is the collection of Prince Eugenio di Savoia, transferred to Piedmont in the 18th century. This collection includes works by great masters of the Renaissance and Baroque periods, offering an overview of European art of the time. The importance of the Sabauda Gallery in the Italian cultural landscape is evidenced by the numerous temporary exhibitions and educational activities organized for the public. The gallery also participates in projects for the restoration and enhancement of works, ensuring the preservation and enjoyment of the artistic heritage for future generations.