The Galleria Corsini is located across the road from the Villa Farnesina, in the Via della Lungara in the Trastevere district in Rome and for a while, after she had abdicated, served as the residence of Queen Christina of Sweden.
Galleria Corsini Rome
Address, opening hours and description
Address: Via della Lungara, 10 – Rome (tel. +39 06 68802323). Opening hours: 08.30 till 19.00. Closed: Tuesdays, January 1, December 25, 26. Admission: 10 Euros.
History and description
Originally the building belonged to the Riario family, but the Corsini‘s acquired it and had it rebuilt by the architect Ferdinando Fuga in 1736.
At the moment the Palazzo Corsini houses the Accademia dei Lincei (National Scientific Academy) and the Galleria Corsini, or to be precise, the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica di Palazzo Corsini. Its gardens are part of a Botanical Garden.
The major part of the more than 300 paintings on display were donated by the Corsini‘s themselves. Especially the 17th century Cardinal Neri Maria Corsini was known to be an avid collector.
In 1883 the palazzo, including its works of art, was bought by the Italian state. The paintings were not moved from their original spots on the first floor though.
Most of the artists are Italians from a period stretching from the Renaissance until the end of the 18th century. Represented are artists like Fra Angelico, Caravaggio, Rubens and Annibale Caracci.
The most famous painting in the Galleria Corsini is Caravaggio‘s “John the Baptist”.
Despite the presence of works by famous artists, even during the high season the Corsini Gallery is remarkably free of tourists.