program for the outreach and appreciation of artworks and archaeological finds from museum storerooms
A memorandum of understanding between General Directorate of Museums of the Ministry of Culture (DG Musei), the non-profit LoveItaly, and Federalberghi Lazio, has established the “Arte Fuori Dal Museo” program whose goal is the exhibition of presently inaccessible cultural artifacts, preserved in the storerooms of state museums, with the intention of raising public awareness and knowledge.
The program envisages replicating this project across the country, connecting museum works in need of restoration to sponsor hotels in the vicinity. The program aims to match the artifact with the destination hotel by affinity, while geographical proximity is important not only for the shared territorial history but also to facilitate visits by hotel guests through assistance provided by the receptions.
The Associazione Federalberghi Lazio, the leading organization in the tourism-accommodation sector in Italy, is supporting the pilot project in Rome and Lazio with the intention of extending it nationally. Federalberghi comprises over 27,000 hotels in Italy. Since its establishment in 1899, it has combined a mission of promoting tourism with social goals and community service. Still today the hotels perform public service roles, first and foremost, offering an accessible and safe space for citizens, even at night.
As Program Coordinator, LoveItaly assists both hotel and museum in identifying the artifact and delivers all the necessary logistical aspects. Hotels and museums in Italy that are interested in taking part should contact – ciao@loveitaly.org – for information.
Press materials HERE
Palazzo Dama
Lungotevere Arnaldo da Brescia, Rome
Etruscan bronze toiletry case
Palestrina, 4th-3rd century BC (Castellani Collection)
The cylinder lid is decorated with engravings of two Nereids on marine creatures. The figures forming the handle are a satyr and a maenad, the claw-shaped feet are surmounted by winged demons. The engraving on the side has two scenes: the departure of a warrior assisted by an old man, and young men with a woman preparing to bathe.
A cista was a container used by women to store toiletries and offered to brides as a wedding gift, so were often decorated with mythological scenes or themes dear to their users. Here, the armed man’s departure acclaims his warrior honour while the scene of the female bath alludes to their future nuptials.
On loan from National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia
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The fresco painting in the display case is on loan as part of the Art Out of the Museum (Arte fuori dal Museo) initiative, a public-private partnership between the Directorate-General of Museums of the Ministry of Culture, Federalberghi Lazio and the non-profit association LoveItaly.
The aim of the project is to restore works of art from the storerooms of Italy’s museums; archeological or artistic artifacts that are not currently on display because they require restoration. Italy’s rich heritage means that there are millions of such objects.
The hotels fund the restoration work making the artifacts accessible to the public through exhibition in their lobbies with the intention of promoting the museums they belong to.
This artwork is on loan from National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia
Hotel Universo, via Principe Amedeo, Rome
portrait bust of Domizia Lucilla
from Ostia Antica, found at the gyms of the Forum Baths, mid 2nd century A.D., Pentelic marble
Domizia Lucilla was born into a wealthy family, the daughter of a consul, Calvisio Tullo. She had two children from her marriage to Marcus Annius Verus, a praetor and brother to the Empress Faustina the Elder, including the Emperor Marcus Aurelius.
In his Meditations, Marcus Aurelius wrote about his mother’s virtues: her religious piety, generosity, and propensity to live a frugal, simple life, unusual for someone of her standing.
This portrait bust is on loan from the Archaeological Park of Ostia Antica – the ancient port city of Rome. It was discovered during excavation of the gyms annexed to the Forum Baths and dates to Domizia Lucilla’s lifetime (mid 2 century C.E:) and is made of Pentelic marble.
On loan from the Archeological Park of Ostia Antica
The portrait of Domizia Lucilla is on loan as part of the Art Out of the Museum (Arte fuori dal Museo) initiative, a public-private partnership between the Directorate-General of Museums of the Ministry of Culture, Federalberghi Lazio and the non-profit association LoveItaly. The aim of the project is to restore works of art from the storerooms of Italy’s museums; archeological or artistic artifacts that are not currently on display because they require restoration. Italy’s rich heritage means that there are millions such objects in museums. The hotels fund the restoration work making the artifacts accessible to the public through exhibition in their lobbies with the intention of promoting the museums to whom they belong.
A portrait bust of her sister-in-law, the Empress Faustina the Elder,
deified by her husband Emperor Antoninus Pius,
is on display across the street in Hotel Diana.
Hotel Senato, piazza della Rotonda, Rome
head of Aphrodite of Knidos
On loan from the National Archaeological Museum of Civitavecchia (ROMA) – Regional Directorate of national Museums of Lazio – Ministry of Culture
2nd century AD – Roman marble copy of a Greek original – found in the waters of the port area of Centumcellae
A Roman copy (2nd century AD) of the famous Aphrodite of Knidos (modern day Turkey) by the Greek sculptor Praxiteles created around 360 BC.
Little is known about the discovery of the head, other than that it was found in the port of Civitavecchia, ancient Centumcellae, and that it was already in the collections of the city’s first civic museum by the early 20th century. The traces of corrosion on the nape of the neck, caused by burrowing molluscs, suggest that it was recovered from an underwater environment. It is likely that the statue, to which the head belonged, was displayed in a small temple dedicated to Aphrodite Euploia, the protector of safe navigation in the port area, this would have been located inside a larger sacred building similar to that in Knidos.
Ancient sources note that the original statue was the first depiction of a nude female deity, causing a huge stir at the time. The goddess is depicted modestly covering herself as she emerges from the water: a gesture that combines naturalness and sensuality, accentuated by the refined realism of her face and a languid gaze turned to the horizon. The extraordinary beauty of the statue gave rise to ancient legends about young travelers falling madly in love with the image of the goddess.
The Colonna Venus, in the Vatican Museums, is probably the most faithful copy of the original.
Conserved at the National Archaeological Museum of Civitavecchia (ROMA), the head of Aphrodite is on loan to Albergo del Senato as part of the Art Out of the Museum project, re-establishing a dialogue with places of hospitality and travel and renewing the profound connection between beauty, the sea, and travel.
Art Out of the Museum (Arte fuori dal Museo) is a public-private partnership between the Directorate-General of Museums of the Ministry of Culture, Federalberghi Lazio and the non-profit association LoveItaly. The aim of the project is to restore works of art from the storerooms of Italy’s museums; archeological artifacts or artworks that are not currently on display because they require restoration. Italy’s rich heritage means that there are millions such objects in museums. The hotels fund the restoration work making the artifacts accessible to the public through exhibition in their lobbies with the intention of promoting the museums to whom they belong.
Restoration of the artwork was made possible thanks to the generous contribution of the
Ludovico degli Uberti Foundation
DOM Hotel
Via Giulia, Rome
Etruscan bronze masterpieces
from National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia
Bronze toiletry case
Vulci, 3rd century BC
The cylindrical container features a panther shaped handle and paw shaped supports surmounted by winged female busts (sirens). It is a smaller version of the containers used at that time to store female toiletry items (combs, mirrors, ceramic or alabaster jars for perfumed oils etc.).
Bronze container for perfumed oils
Vulci, 3rd-2nd century BC
The face of the small female head, with dangling earrings and necklace, is framed by softly waving hair, gathered at the nape and held in place by a diadem, which hides the removable lid. It would have contained oils or perhaps cosmetic powders.
The fresco painting in the display case is on loan as part of the Art Out of the Museum (Arte fuori dal Museo) initiative, a public-private partnership between the Directorate-General of Museums of the Ministry of Culture, Federalberghi Lazio and the non-profit association LoveItaly.
The aim of the project is to restore works of art from the storerooms of Italy’s museums; archeological or artistic artifacts that are not currently on display because they require restoration. Italy’s rich heritage means that there are millions of such objects.
The hotels fund the restoration work making the artifacts accessible to the public through exhibition in their lobbies with the intention of promoting the museums they belong to.
This artwork is on loan from National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia
Hotel Dom, Via Giulia, Rome
Hotel Diana, Rome
portrait bust of Faustina Maggiore
from Ostia Antica, found near the Theatre, early 2nd century A.D., Carrara marble
Faustina the Elder, formally Annia Galeria Faustina, who lived from 105 to 140 C.E., was born into the Antonine dynasty.
Her marriage to the Emperor Antoninus Pius brought four children including Faustina the Younger, future empress.
Deified after her death by her husband, a great temple in the Roman Forum was dedicated to the couple and she was celebrated throughout the Empire, associated in particular with Ceres, goddess of fertility.
On loan from the Archeological Park of Ostia Antica
Click here for more information: Faustina the Elder
A portrait bust of her sister-in-law, Domizia Lucilla, mother of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius
is on display across the street in Hotel Universo.
Hotel Scalinata di Spagna
Piazza della Trinità dei Monti, Rome
Fresco of the Fate Lachesis
from Necropolis of Portus, Isola Sacra, early 2nd century A.D.
The figure depicted in this fresco painting is Lachesis, the central of the three mythological Fates, sisters attributed with the task of determining human destiny. Clotho spun the thread of an individual’s lifespan, Lachesis would measure it and determine its length and Atropos would, implacably, cut it. Not even the gods of Olympus were exempt. As the shape of the fresco painting suggests, it once adorned a niche settled between depictions of her sisters. They were found in Tomb 11 at the Necropolis of Portus, Isola Sacra and date to early 2nd century A.D..
On loan from the Archeological Park of Ostia Antica
The fresco painting in the display case is on loan as part of the Art Out of the Museum (Arte fuori dal Museo) initiative, a public-private partnership between the Directorate-General of Museums of the Ministry of Culture, Federalberghi Lazio and the non-profit association LoveItaly. The aim of the project is to restore works of art from the storerooms of Italy’s museums; archeological or artistic artifacts that are not currently on display because they require restoration. Italy’s rich heritage means that there are millions of such objects. The hotels fund the restoration work making the artifacts accessible to the public through exhibition in their lobbies with the intention of promoting the museums they belong to.
Visit the Necropolis of Portus
Prof. Richard Hodges, President of LoveItaly, said: “This wonderful collaboration returns extraordinary treasures to the city today and gives visitors from all over the world the opportunity to be fascinated by little-known Italian works of art. Now, thanks to this partnership with LoveItaly , a non-profit association dedicated to enhancing Italian cultural heritage, these treasures will win over a new generation of admirers.”
The insurance coverage for the program Art Out of the Museum | Arte fuori dal Museo is sponsored by the MAG Group.
