The charm of a historic residence lies in immersing oneself in history. In the case of Palazzo Colonna, we are talking about 900 years of history of the Family and 700 of the building.
The striking centerpiece of the Palace is the Gallery, built in the mid-seventeenth century specifically to house the impressive artistic collections of the Family: starting from the antiquities collection, continuing with the rich painting gallery, all enhanced by magnificent cycles of frescoes.
Highlights of the Colonna Collection
Choosing the highlights of an art collection is always very personal.
Archaeology enthusiasts will certainly be amazed by the considerable classical statuary adorning the walls of the Grand Hall of the Gallery.
Painting lovers can indulge in masterpieces from the 1300s to the wonders of the 1800s. An important nucleus comes from Emilian painting, with the youthful work of Annibale Carracci standing out, depicting The Bean Eater, one of the most celebrated paintings of modern times, yet whose ancient history is completely shrouded in mystery. Based on stylistic analysis, we can assert that Annibale executed it when he was just over twenty years old (circa 1584-1585), but we know nothing about the identity of the portrayed figure or the original destination of the painting, until it reappeared in the early 1700s in Roman art collections, first with the Pallavicini and then with the Colonna. It is indeed immortalized by Salvatore Colonnelli Sciarra in 1730 a pendant with another work by Annibale, depicting The Drinker (presumably the one currently housed at the Cleveland Museum).
Equally remarkable is the Florentine series by the great masters Agnolo Bronzino (1503-1572) and Alessandro Allori (1535-1607), his favorite pupil. These works constitute an important chapter in art history. For example, the monumental panel depicting Venus, Cupid, and Satyr, which Bronzino executed between 1553 and 1555, was described by Giorgio Vasari as “so beautiful that she seems truly to be Venus, the Goddess of beauty” (1568).
For antique furniture enthusiasts, the Colonna collection represents a unicum in beauty and variety of styles. What can be said about the monumental chests in the Landscapes Hall, crafted respectively in ivory and ebony or in sandalwood covered with hard and semi-precious stones? Or the extraordinary consoles depicting the subdued Turks, a clear reference to the heroic deeds of the ancestor Marcantonio II Colonna, Commander of the papal fleet at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571.
We must not forget the collection of seventeenth-century tapestries: starting with the Series of Artemisia, with a precious gold-thread weave, already included in the museum path for some time, this year we have also added the opportunity to see the magnificent Series of Alexander the Great preserved in the halls of the Pio Apartment (open to the public since March).
Tapestry from the Series of Artemisia 
Tapestry from the Series of Alexander the Great
I have been working at Palazzo Colonna for over twenty years, and during this long period, I have had the privilege and honor of accompanying guests of all kinds who, depending on their sensitivity, have been moved to tears.
To conclude, I invite everyone to return to visit museums, safely. Let’s bring our children because it is there that the passion for knowledge and respect for the ancestors who came before us is born. A place to feel emotions. I take this opportunity to sincerely thank all those visitors who have chosen to visit us in large numbers since our reopening post-Covid on Saturday, May 23. We will continue to do our best to earn your trust.
Patrizia Piergiovanni
Director of Galleria Colonna
Curator of artistic collections
