Museology and History of Collecting

A.Y. 2025/2026
9
Max ECTS
60
Overall hours
SSD
L-ART/04
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
The aim of the teaching is to provide students with skills in the analysis of historical and contemporary displays in museums and temporary exhibitions, enabling them to read critical choices within the context of the contemporary art history studies, the connections with the restoration solutions of works of art and with their conservative needs, the relevance of the architectural choices.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: knowledge on the Italian exhibition culture of the first half of the 20th century, analyzed within the European and American context;
Applying knowledge and understanding: Acquisition of tools useful for orientation in the history of museology and museography; critical tools useful to read in the exhibitions the reasons of art criticism, the culture of restoration and conservation and of architecture.
Single course

This course can be attended as a single course.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Part A (20 hours; 3 credits)
Lecturer: Tommaso Tovaglieri
Title: The history of the Contini Bonacossi collection (I)

PART B (20 hours; 3 credits)
Lecturer: Tommaso Tovaglieri
Title: The history of the Contini Bonacossi collection (II)

PART C (20 hours; 3 credits)
Lecturer: Chiara Costa
Title: Exercises in the history of collecting and exhibition making in the 20th century

THE DEADLINE FOR THIS PROGRAMME IS JULY 2027
Prerequisites for admission
A general knowledge of art history, from antiquity to the present day, is required, taking into account the physical nature of the works. Students must also be familiar with the historical events of the 20th century in Italy.
Teaching methods
Lessons take place in the classroom, through text reading exercises and the examination of certain images.
Teaching Resources
Programme for the 9 cfu, attending students:
Knowledge of the topics covered during the lectures. At the end of the course, the PowerPoint presentations of the images shown in class will be made available to students.

R. Fontanarossa, Collezionisti e musei. Una storia culturale, Torino, Einaudi, 2022

T. Tovaglieri, Roberto Longhi. Il mito del più grande storico dell'arte del Novecento, Milano, Il Saggiatore, 2025

La collezione Contini Bonacossi nelle Gallerie degli Uffizi, Firenze, Giunti Editore, 2018

Programme for the 9 cfu, non attending students:

R. Fontanarossa, Collezionisti e musei. Una storia culturale, Torino, Einaudi, 2022

T. Tovaglieri, Roberto Longhi. Il mito del più grande storico dell'arte del Novecento, Milano, Il Saggiatore, 2025

La collezione Contini Bonacossi nelle Gallerie degli Uffizi, Firenze, Giunti Editore, 2018

A. B. Saarinen, I grandi collezionisti americani, Torino, Einaudi, 1977

F. Haskell, La nascita delle mostre. I dipinti degli antichi maestri e l'origine delle esposizioni d'arte, Milano, Skira

All books listed in the programme are available in the Department Library, in one or more copies.
All books listed in the programme can be purchased on ibs, Amazon, and AbeBooks.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The oral examination will focus on assessing the knowledge acquired, the ability to contextualise historically, and the method of analysing sources and critical bibliography. The images provided in PowerPoint are essential for preparing for the examination.
Students who demonstrate serious gaps in their knowledge, use inappropriate language, or are unable to navigate the assigned bibliography will be considered to have failed.
Modules or teaching units
Part C
L-ART/04 - MUSEOLOGY, ART AND RESTORATION CRITICISM - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours

Parts A and B
L-ART/04 - MUSEOLOGY, ART AND RESTORATION CRITICISM - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor: Tovaglieri Tommaso