From June 12, on the occasion of GEA 2026, The National Archaeological Museum and Santa Maria della Scala present to the public: “In the Garden of Dionysus. Visions from the Torlonia Collection Photographs from the Eduard A. Safarik Archive - Giuliano Briganti Photographic Library”.
The Giuliano Briganti Photographic Library has recently acquired the Archivio-Fototeca of Eduard A. Safarik - a scholar linked to the collecting milieu of the great Roman families - within which a precious photographic documentation of the Torlonia collection of Rome is preserved, often accompanied by bibliographic notes. The exhibition reproduces a selection of ten images, printed in large format, dedicated to ancient sculptures variously related to the Dionysian theme, among which is the group of Satyr and Nymph (Invitation to the Dance) recently reassembled, the Drunken Satyr, the female statue, type “Bacchante Carpi” etc.
The images are presented to the public by juxtaposing a contemporary fine art digital print with the analogue original from the 1960s, in which the anonymous photographer captured the works by photographing the pages of one of the first catalogues of the Torlonia collection: P. E. Visconti, The Monuments of the Torlonia Museum of Ancient Sculptures, Tipografia Tiberina di F. Setth, Fototipie Stabilimento Fotografico Danesi, Rome 1885. Next to the photographs from the Safarik Archive some volumes from the Giuliano Briganti Library and Photographic Library are on display, all dating from the 17th century, such as Joachim von Sandrart, The German Academy of Architecture, Sculpture & Painting, Nuremberg 1679 and Pietro Aquila, Galleriae Farnesiane Icones, Rome 1674, accompanied by etchings and/or burin engravings related to the archaeological or Dionysian theme.
The photographic and bibliographic documentation is intended to enter into dialogue with the materials of the National Archaeological Museum.
Others Events
- Exhibitions
In the blue painted blue. A tribute to the ceramics of Valter Boj (1959-2022)
12 Jun 2026/30 Jul 2026From 12 June to 30 July 2026, the Magazzini della Corticella of Santa Maria della Scala host the exhibition “Nel blu dipinto di blu. Tribute to the ceramics of Valter Boj (1959-2022)”, curated by Carlo Pizzichini.
- Guided tours
The water routes at the Santa Maria della Scala
After the large turnout, the guided tours "Water Routes at Santa Maria della Scala".
- Initiatives
Poetic matter about Wisława Szymborska. Artist's pages
5 Jun 2026/5 Jun 2026Friday, June 5, the Giuliano Briganti Library and Phototheque hosts the fourth edition of Pagine d'artista, the exhibition dedicated to artists' books and book-objects created by the students of the 'Duccio di Buoninsegna' Art High School of Siena as part of the School-Work Training projects.
- Initiatives
A night at Santa Maria della Scala… the museum comes to life!
23 May 2026/23 May 2026On the occasion of the European Night of Museums, on Saturday, May 23, Santa Maria della Scala will be exceptionally open in the evening as well, until midnight (last admission at 11:15 PM), offering the public a special opportunity to experience the museum in an unusual and evocative setting.
- Initiatives
Sunday at the Santa Maria della Scala
Every first Sunday of the month, Santa Maria della Scala opens free of charge to the public. An opportunity to visit the museum complex and the National Archaeological Museum.
- Initiatives
Policromia: the international festival of poetry and translation
22 May 2026/22 May 2026On Friday, May 23, the Briganti Library hosts Policromia, an international festival dedicated to poetry and the art of translation, now in its fourth edition.
- Exhibitions
Santa Maria della Scala. Architecture, projects and visions. An exhibition curated by Luca Molinari
30 May 2026/27 Sep 2026From 30 May to 27 September 2026 the Fondazione Antico Ospedale Santa Maria della Scala presents the exhibition Santa Maria della Scala. Architecture, projects and visions. An exhibition curated by Luca Molinari.
- Film screening
Documentary film MARIO VERDONE: THE CRITICAL TRAVELER
15 Dec 2024/15 Dec 2024On Sunday, December 15th at 5:00 PM, in the Italo Calvino room, the documentary film Mario Verdone: the traveling critic, by Luca Verdone, will be screened.
- Conferences
Celebrations of the 450th anniversary of the death of Cosimo I de' Medici. Study conference: "Siena, Florence, and Cosimo I de' Medici"
11 Dec 2024/12 Dec 2024On December 11 and 12, 2024, as part of the celebrations organized by the Tuscany Region for the 450th anniversary of the death of Cosimo I de' Medici, the conference "Siena, Florence and Cosimo I de' Medici" will take place in the Sant'Ansano hall.
- Exhibitions
FABRIZIO CLERICI IN THE PRINTS OF THE BRIGANTI LIBRARY. 'Signs' of friendship in the centenary of Surrealism
28 Nov 2024/28 Nov 2024On Thursday, November 28, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, a commemorative event will be held to mark the one hundredth anniversary of the official birth of Surrealism (Manifeste du Surréalisme, André Breton 1924) with a tribute to a great master of the 20th century, Fabrizio Clerici (Milan 1913-Rome 1993), a fine intellectual, graduated in architecture, and an eclectic artist, active as an illustrator, engraver, painter, set designer, and costume designer.
