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Museo d'Arte Costantino Barbella

Civic art museum of Chieti on the piano nobile (main floor) of Palazzo Martinetti Bianchi: frescoes, majolica, sculpture by Barbella and the Paglione collection of the 20th century.

Opening hoursFree admission

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About the museum

The museum occupies the piano nobile (main floor) of Palazzo Martinetti Bianchi, which was built as a Jesuit convent in 1640. After the suppression of the religious orders in 1767 the palazzo was bought by Pietro Franchi in 1786; the decoration of the vault of the main hall dates from 1796 and is the work of the Neapolitan painter Giacinto Diano, who depicted the Apotheosis of Psyche. In the first half of the 19th century the Franchi family sold the building to the marquesses Martinetti Bianchi.

The collections originate from an effort begun as early as the 19th century by scholars and politicians of the city: to the nucleus of works recovered after the suppression of the convents, private donations and purchases by the local authorities have been added. The display, arranged in chronological order, was realised thanks to the collaboration between the municipality and the Province of Chieti. The collections range from the 15th to the 20th century: frescoes and panels, paintings of the 17th and 18th centuries and of 19th-century Abruzzo, majolica from Castelli and the sculpture section, with numerous terracottas and bronzes by Costantino Barbella (1853–1925), to whom the museum is dedicated, and works by Basilio Cascella.

In 2004 the museum was enriched with the “Arte per Immagini” collection, donated by the couple Alfredo and Teresina Paglione: 101 paintings and sculptures including works by De Chirico, Manzù, Campigli, Guttuso and Aligi Sassu (of which “I ciclisti” of 1931 is present), as well as numerous Spanish artists such as Miró, Ortega and Orellana, with a tribute to Carlos Mensa.

Highlights

Vault frescoed by Giacinto Diano with the Apotheosis of Psyche
Terracottas and bronzes by Costantino Barbella
Majolica from Castelli
Paglione collection with De Chirico, Manzù, Guttuso and Sassu
Room dedicated to Aligi Sassu with “I ciclisti”

Permanent exhibition

Collezione permanente del museo – Chronological route from the 15th-century frescoes and panels to the majolica, to 19th-century Abruzzo and Barbella’s sculpture section, and on to the 20th-century Paglione collection.

Operated by: Comune di Chieti
Visitors per year: approx. 6,000