Art and Diplomacy

The Farnesina Collection is a collection of over 600 works of Italian art, from the early 20th century to the present day, on free loan from artists, museums, archives, foundations and other institutions.

Inside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, art coexists with the space of representation, administration and public service, becoming a vital instrument of cultural diplomacy.

For over 20 years, the collection has represented not only an important showcase of the history of Italian contemporary art on the national territory, but also a fundamental tool for promoting the 'Italian System' abroad.

The collection has travelled on numerous occasions, from its foundation in 1999 to today, thanks to collaboration with the network of Embassies, Consulates and Cultural Institutes around the world, together with public and private institutions.

Here are some of the exhibitions in which the works of the Farnesina Collection have been exhibited...

… and the main legs of its tours around the world.

Italian contemporary art is promoted through multiple activities, including editorial initiatives, digital content, tools for education and in-depth study, aimed at disseminating and promoting our heritage.

Here are some of our books and catalogs.

A virtuous example of this overseas projection of the Collection is the successful exhibition curated by the critic Achille Bonito Oliva. The show saw a huge success of public in the four Asian locations in which it was displayed: Singapore, Tokyo, New Delhi and Seoul.