The town's two museums - the Etruscan
Academy and the Diocesan are two essential places to
visit for anyone wanting to know more of the town's
history as well as historical and contemporary art.
The Etruscan museum located in Piazza Signorelli was
founded in 1727 in conjunction with the Etruscan Academy
as a part of its cultural activities. It occupies 14
rooms in the Palazzo Casali and includes collections
from Etruscan, Egyptian and Roman times as well as later
periods.
The most recent is an anthological
collection of work by the Cortonese artist Gino Severini
(1883-1966). The museum's most admired items in terms
of their importance, beauty and originality are the
bronze Etruscan chandelier from the V century BC; the
Egyptian funeral boat in painted wood from about 2000
BC; the Muse Polimnia, a remarkable encaustic picture
on slate; a Madonna by Pinturicchio (1454-1513), the
Adoration by the Shepherds by the Cortonese artist,
Luca Signorelli (1450- 1523), a large altar-piece of
the Madonna and saints by Pietro da Cortona (1597-1669)
and works by other famous artists such as Niccolò
Gerini, Andrea Comodi, Neri di Bicci and Bartolomeo
della Gatta…
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