An indispensable preface

It is a museum that bears witness of the artistic developements of the 20th century in Mantua and not solely.The museum is also home to the most current artistic trends.

It is a site which is rich in history and takes heed of contemporary art, an exceptional museum with an incredible skill in foreshadowing: in fact its exhibitions often detect gifted personalities, ones that are usually destined to be reconsidered or youngsters apt to become esteemed artists.

The museum was set up thanks to the devoted commitment of the Mayors that have administered Gazoldo degli Ippoliti since 1979, from Francesco Zoccoli to the present Mayor Nicola Leoni and to hundreds of people who have offered time, hard work and donations.

In just forty years, it has thus become an established museum exhibiting over five hundred works of paintings, sculptures and graphics, dating from the second half of the 19th century. The collection of paintings consists of works by important Mantuan and Italian artists, with a special section dedicated to the Lombard Chiarismo and a section entitled to Archimede Bresciani, an artist born in Gazoldo degli Ippoliti.

Everything here is fascinating, starting with the hallway that cuts across the building, the staircases structured into two parallel flights sealed against walls and oblique intrados with crossings on the landings where one can find the mighty figures standing side by side of two monumental statues of Hercules in armour. The first,on one side, is represented while taming Cerberus and the second on the opposite side is defeating Hydra of Lerna. Therfore art pervades everywhere in a blend of modern, contemporary and ancient compositions.