Library and Photo archive Giuliano Briganti

Giuliano Briganti (1918-1992) was one of the most important art historians of the twentieth century. He graduated in 1940 with a thesis about Pellegrino Tibaldi and he dedicated his entire career to the study of various artistic movements, such as Baroque and Vedutismo. His historical-artistic formation has been strongly influenced by outstanding figures, first of all Roberto Longhi, with whom he started the magazine Paragone Arte. In 1998 the library and photographic library belonging to Briganti were acquired by the Siena City Council, a valuable historical and artistic heritage including 18.000 volumes and 50.000 photographs. The library collection is mainly dedicated to Art History and most of it consists of rare ancient books regarding artists from the Sixteenth to the Eighteenth century. The volumes feature etchings, copperplates, woodblock printings, drawings, etc. The library is composed of different kinds of books such as monographs of Italian and foreign artists, local guidebooks, museums and exhibition catalogues, art magazines and auction catalogues. The photographic library follows both alphabetical and geographical sort orders. It primarily includes b/w photos taken between the mid-nineteenth and the 1990s regarding italian and european paintings from the Fourteenth to the Eighteenth century. The most interesting sections include Bamboccianti, Pietro da Cortona, Van Wittel, Tyssen Bornemisza collection, the former Sannitica bank, Rome Quirinal Palace. Of special interest is a section dedicated to anonymous painters. The library is open to the public since 2006 and has doubled its book and photographic property. The last purchase concerns the photographic archive belonging to the Czech art historian Eduard Alexandr Safarik, who was the Doria Pamphilj Gallery and Colonna Gallery director. His collection is composed over 44.000 photographs and approximately 66.000 papers. In addition, events and workshops are often organised in order to maintain a connection between historical heritage and contemporary art production.

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