"Statue of Cupid and Psyche,” from the second half of the 2nd century CE
A collection of ancient Roman sculptures—premiering for the first time outside of Europe—has just arrived at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Regarded as the most extensive private collection of Roman sculptures in the world, the Torlonia Collection has been assembled, stewarded and passed down over generations by the Torlonia Family since the early 19th century. It was established by Prince Giovanni Torlonia (1754–1829) and his son Prince Alessandro (1800–1886), who purchased a variety of ancient sculptures from early modern Rome and obtained others through archaeological excavations of Italian Torlonia estates.
The North American tour of Myth and Marble: Ancient Roman Sculpture from the Torlonia Collection includes 58 works from the collection—dating from the 5th century BCE to the early 4th century CE—including 24 sculptures that have not been on view for nearly a century. The Torlonia Foundation has newly restored these works with the support of Italian luxury fashion house Bvlgari.
“The Foundation is excited to be sharing the Torlonia Collection with audiences in North America for the first time. This exceptional group of ancient sculptures is a testament to the enduring cultural legacy of ancient Rome, as well as the vision and passion of multiple generations of the Torlonia Family,” says Alessandro Poma Murialdo, president of the Torlonia Foundation.
Sculptures of the “Imperial Portraits” section of the exhibit
The tour highlights the Torlonia Foundation’s efforts to expand the awareness and appreciation of the collection with principal sponsorship from Bvlgari, cooperation from the Italian Ministry of Culture and support from international law firm Chiomenti.
As the primary patron of the restoration project since its inception in Rome in 2017 and throughout the global tour, Bvlgari has joined forces with the Torlonia Foundation to support the conservation of over 150 statues. The partnership pays tribute to the maison’s Greco-Roman heritage and highlights the brand’s efforts to preserve Rome’s legacy through cultural projects and artistic sponsorship.
“The Bvlgari Foundation perpetuates and amplifies a mission that has always been part of Bvlgari’s DNA,” says Jean-Christophe Babin, Bvlgari Group CEO and president of Fondazione Bvlgari. “A commitment to building a magnificent future with long-term, lasting value in the fields of art and patronage, education, philanthropy and inclusion. The collaboration with the Fondazione Torlonia is the perfect testament to this mission, aiming at the pursuit of beauty and the preservation of what must be passed down from generation to generation. The journey now begins in Rome and extends to the United States and Canada.”
"Sarcophagus Lid with Reclining Couple,” from the second half of the 2nd century CE
Divided into six sections, the exhibit opens with Icons of the Torlonia Collection, featuring historically impactful works like Portrait of a Young Woman. It continues with Imperial Portraits, which depict the reigning emperors of the 2nd century CE and their families, including examples of female portraiture—a lesser-acknowledged facet of ancient society.
The Torlonia Excavations section spotlights sculptures found on the Torlonia Family’s properties in Rome, the nearby suburbs and their estate in Porto, Italy. These include the Attic Votive Relief, the earliest sculpture in the collection, and the Portus Relief, which portrays the ancient Roman port of Portus.
Sculptures that have been transformed into new works are showcased in the Exceptional Restorations section, which represents the Renaissance-era custom of displaying unfragmented objects in their homes and living quarters. Another division, Gods and Goddesses, illustrates the deities of ancient Rome, while the final section, Funerary Sculpture, displays sarcophagi and other works that honor the dead and pay tribute to the concept of eternal personal identity.
Each section is accompanied by a catalog co-published by the Art Institute of Chicago and the Torlonia Foundation that has been edited by curators Lisa Ayla Çakmak and Katharine A. Raff of the Art Institute of Chicago and features essays by Silvia Beltrametti and Salvatore Settis.
The unveiling of the exhibit, hosted by Bvlgari at the Art Institute of Chicago
“We wanted to try and build this relationship between the past and the present and to contextualize it in a way that shows how Romans moved through a world surrounded by images, just like we do today,” Çakmak says.
The Art Institute of Chicago and the Torlonia Foundation—in collaboration with the Kimbell Art Museum, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and The Museum Box—co-organized the exhibit. Following its debut at the Art Institute of Chicago, it will travel to the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
“This is the most wonderful, rare, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to be able to showcase this many stellar works here, all together, at one time,” Raff says. “This is something really exciting to bring to our audiences. We have never, in the history of the museum, seen anything like this.”
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Photography by: Photography courtesy of Bvlgari
