On the 17th November 2018, the city of Bergamo was enriched with the Sestini Museum of Photography, at the Convent of San Francesco, in the upper town.
1,200,000 images. An archive of inestimable value that could not remain closed in a safe, available only for the eyes of those working there.
The west wing of the convent comes to life
All this heritage has now been returned to the city thanks to the munificent gesture by the SIAD Foundation Sestini that, together with the Municipality of Bergamo and Museum of the History of Bergamo, has created in the west wing of the Convent of San Francesco. A pole for the conservation and cataloguing of historical photography, a multipurpose space for study, protection and enhancement: the Sestini Museum of Photography.
500m2 where you can have a 360° experience with the world of photography.
A museum open to all
A museum open to all, a living museum, where contemplation becomes an activity of discovery and knowledge, of participation and confrontation, in constant dialogue with photography, historical and poetic testimony of the human condition of other places and times.
A SINGLE PROTAGONIST, the photograph. A universe made up of daguerreotypes, prints, negatives on film and glass plate, original photographic instruments and equipment, and a specialised library with a catalogue of more than 600 volumes, rare and modern. Unique pieces that make this museum an excellence in the Italian photography scene.
Also online!
1 ONLINE PORTAL. Available in the museum or directly from home, it will allow you to have the archive’s images always just a click away.
The Sestini Museum of Photography is located in the west wing of the ground floor of the Convent of San Francesco and occupies a total area of 500 square metres.
The structure: glass and light
A first large room whose volume is amplified by the imposing glass that separates the exhibition space from the cataloguing areas. This high-impact solution makes the space enjoyable and practicable, allowing visitors to see professional archivists during their daily work of the study, rearranging and inventory of the images. It allows visitors to get in touch with the 'behind the scenes' area of the Museum and with the extraordinary research that characterises its activity.
Another distinctive element is the dominant white colour chosen for the rooms and furnishings, which enlivens the brightness of the space and enhances the lighting solutions. A restoration that keeps the dialogue between ancient and modern alive, thanks to the windows that remain along the corridor, allowing you to enjoy the medieval architecture of the convent of San Francesco. Not only that, the opening of this new museum shows a new and striking view of the Upper City, an unprecedented view to enjoy and photograph!
The funds
But which funds make up the heritage of the Sestini Museum of Photography?
The Museo del Risorgimento Fund, the Domenico Lucchetti Collection, the Fausto Asperti Fund and that of the Pesenti studio. There is also the Gianfermo Musitelli Fund, that of the Lorandi Travel Agency, the Nicola Burgarella Fund, the Tito Terzi Fund and the last three acquisitions, which are the Pepi Merisio fund, Goglio, and that of Alfonso Modonesi. All described in this link.
On the 17th November 2018, the city of Bergamo was enriched with the Sestini Museum of Photography, at the Convent of San Francesco, in the upper town.
1,200,000 images. An archive of inestimable value that could not remain closed in a safe, available only for the eyes of those working there.
The west wing of the convent comes to life
All this heritage has now been returned to the city thanks to the munificent gesture by the SIAD Foundation Sestini that, together with the Municipality of Bergamo and Museum of the History of Bergamo, has created in the west wing of the Convent of San Francesco. A pole for the conservation and cataloguing of historical photography, a multipurpose space for study, protection and enhancement: the Sestini Museum of Photography.
500m2 where you can have a 360° experience with the world of photography.
A museum open to all
A museum open to all, a living museum, where contemplation becomes an activity of discovery and knowledge, of participation and confrontation, in constant dialogue with photography, historical and poetic testimony of the human condition of other places and times.
A SINGLE PROTAGONIST, the photograph. A universe made up of daguerreotypes, prints, negatives on film and glass plate, original photographic instruments and equipment, and a specialised library with a catalogue of more than 600 volumes, rare and modern. Unique pieces that make this museum an excellence in the Italian photography scene.
Also online!
1 ONLINE PORTAL. Available in the museum or directly from home, it will allow you to have the archive’s images always just a click away.
The Sestini Museum of Photography is located in the west wing of the ground floor of the Convent of San Francesco and occupies a total area of 500 square metres.
The structure: glass and light
A first large room whose volume is amplified by the imposing glass that separates the exhibition space from the cataloguing areas. This high-impact solution makes the space enjoyable and practicable, allowing visitors to see professional archivists during their daily work of the study, rearranging and inventory of the images. It allows visitors to get in touch with the 'behind the scenes' area of the Museum and with the extraordinary research that characterises its activity.
Another distinctive element is the dominant white colour chosen for the rooms and furnishings, which enlivens the brightness of the space and enhances the lighting solutions. A restoration that keeps the dialogue between ancient and modern alive, thanks to the windows that remain along the corridor, allowing you to enjoy the medieval architecture of the convent of San Francesco. Not only that, the opening of this new museum shows a new and striking view of the Upper City, an unprecedented view to enjoy and photograph!
The funds
But which funds make up the heritage of the Sestini Museum of Photography?
The Museo del Risorgimento Fund, the Domenico Lucchetti Collection, the Fausto Asperti Fund and that of the Pesenti studio. There is also the Gianfermo Musitelli Fund, that of the Lorandi Travel Agency, the Nicola Burgarella Fund, the Tito Terzi Fund and the last three acquisitions, which are the Pepi Merisio fund, Goglio, and that of Alfonso Modonesi. All described in this link.
