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.
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.
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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Events & Exhibitions
Exhibitions, talks, guided tours and special events in Siena.
Exhibitions, talks, guided tours and special events in Siena.
OPEN ARCHIVES WEEK – 11th edition
From 18 to 25 October 2025, the Antico Ospedale Santa Maria della Scala Foundation participates in the eleventh edition of the Open Archives Week, the event promoted by Rete Fotografia to enhance and showcase the photographic heritage preserved in Italian archives.
From 18 to 25 October 2025, the Antico Ospedale Santa Maria della Scala Foundation participates in the eleventh edition of the Open Archives Week, the event promoted by Rete Fotografia to enhance and showcase the photographic heritage preserved in Italian archives.
"Oh Good!" by Moustapha Cessay at the Briganti Library
On the occasion of the fifth edition of the Festival Voci Migranti, the Giuliano Briganti Library and Photographic Archive will host from October 24 to 31 the work Oh Good! by the artist Moustapha Cessay, created as part of the Le Valigie Digitali project.
On the occasion of the fifth edition of the Festival Voci Migranti, the Giuliano Briganti Library and Photographic Archive will host from October 24 to 31 the work Oh Good! by the artist Moustapha Cessay, created as part of the Le Valigie Digitali project.
NO BOOK IS THE SAME AS ANOTHER - Reading Groups
Reading is an emotional and transformative experience, capable of stimulating reflection and inner well-being. The reading group Nessun libro è uguale all’altro, active since 2021 at the Giuliano Briganti Library, promotes dialogue and sharing among readers.
Reading is an emotional and transformative experience, capable of stimulating reflection and inner well-being. The reading group Nessun libro è uguale all’altro, active since 2021 at the Giuliano Briganti Library, promotes dialogue and sharing among readers.
“Photography readings” IV edition
On Saturday, March 15 and Sunday, March 16, 2025, the initiative "Letture di Fotografia" returns to Santa Maria della Scala, created by the Siena Foto Club (SFC) in collaboration with the Antico Ospedale Santa Maria della Scala Foundation. This two-day event, now in its fourth edition, is entirely dedicated to the promotion and knowledge of photography.
On Saturday, March 15 and Sunday, March 16, 2025, the initiative "Letture di Fotografia" returns to Santa Maria della Scala, created by the Siena Foto Club (SFC) in collaboration with the Antico Ospedale Santa Maria della Scala Foundation. This two-day event, now in its fourth edition, is entirely dedicated to the promotion and knowledge of photography.
Paper Garden. The thread and the sign: assemblages, grafts, and diary-books
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FABRIZIO CLERICI IN THE PRINTS OF THE BRIGANTI LIBRARY. 'Signs' of friendship in the centenary of Surrealism
On 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.
On 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.
Artworks
Rare carbon photograpich prints in extra formats
The photographic library owned by Briganti guards a collection of photos made with printing techniques which go back to the Nineteenth and Twentieth century. Those photos refer to a time when the use of increasingly advanced methods was spreading the photographic technique.
The photographic library owned by Briganti guards a collection of photos made with printing techniques which go back to the Nineteenth and Twentieth century. Those photos refer to a time when the use of increasingly advanced methods was spreading the photographic technique.
Giovan Battista Piranesi and Classical Antiquity in Rome
Il Campo Marzio dell'Antica Roma
Il Campo Marzio dell'Antica Roma
The artist books from the Librartis Collection
The shelves of the Briganti Library feature the Librartis Collection which includes 130 'artist’s books' crafted by many different artists around the world, above all Italian and those who are specially related to the city of Siena.
The shelves of the Briganti Library feature the Librartis Collection which includes 130 'artist’s books' crafted by many different artists around the world, above all Italian and those who are specially related to the city of Siena.