Description of the attraction
In 1921, to commemorate the centenary of the independence of Peru, the Italian émigré society led by Don Gino Salochi donated a lot of money to organize a museum of Italian art in Lima. The design of the building was commissioned by the Milan architect Gaetano Moretti, and the selection of exhibits for the museum was commissioned by art critic Mario Vannini Parenti.
The official presentation of the museum and its collection took place on November 11, 1923. In the design and decorative elements of the building, the influence of Italian art of the past is noticeable: elements of Bramante's architecture, reliefs and decorative details inspired by the works of Donatello, Ghiberti, Michelangelo and Botticelli. On the facade of the building, there are two giant mosaic canvases depicting the most famous historical figures in Italy.
The museum displays works by contemporary artists from all regions of Italy. Museum consultant - renowned Italian writer, art critic and journalist Hugo Ogetti has acquired nearly 200 works for the museum, including sculptures, paintings, prints, drawings and ceramics from more than 100 Italian artists. Thus, the Museum of Italian Art in Lima becomes a unique repository of contemporary Italian art of the 20th century, despite the absence of avant-garde works in the collection. In 1989 and 1990, the collection of the museum was replenished with 35 more works.
In 1972, the museum was transferred to the management of the National Institute of Culture (since 2010 it is the Ministry of Culture of Peru). Museum workers make great efforts to preserve the collection for posterity. All the work done so far has been possible thanks to the constant cooperation with the Italian Embassy and the invaluable help of the patrons of the Museum of Italian Art.
It is worth noting that this is the only museum in the country with a collection of more than 200 paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints and ceramics by Italian artists. In 1974, the Museum of Italian Art in Lima was declared a cultural heritage of Peru.
