Diocesan Museum of Palermo


The Diocesan Museum of Palermo is a museum of religious art in Palermo on Sicily, housed in a number of rooms in the Palazzo Arcivescovile opposite Palermo Cathedral.

History

It was founded in 1927 by cardinal Alessandro Lualdi, Archbishop of Palermo

Layout

Room I

This houses the welcome desk as well as artworks from the Norman and Swabian eras.

Room II - ''Sala dei fondi oro''

This contains works from the 14th and 15th centuries as well as imported 14th century Pisa works:
As its current name suggests, it houses crosses.

Rooms IV-VI

Objects from excavations at the Archepiscopal Palace from the Archaic age, Byzantine period and medieval era.

Room VII

This houses 15th century sculptures by artists such as Domenico Gagini, Pietro de Bonitate and Francesco Laurana. Those by Gagini are:
This contains 16th century sculptural fragments from Palermo Cathedral by Antonello Gagini and his workshop, removed during Ferdinando Fuga's rebuilding, along with a plaster reconstruction by Prof. Salvatore Rizzuti and his students at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Palermo and the sculptures from the Tribuna of Antonello Gagini in the cathedral.
Devoted to sculpture and decorative arts from the 17th and 18th centuries, it displays locally produced maiolica and several 16th century mixed-marble fragments from the Cathedral and other Baroque churches in the city produced by local craftsmen. It also houses two 1728-1729 works by Giacomo Serpotta, Allegory of Faith and Allegory of Clemency, both in monochrome stucco.

Room X

Named after Mario Di Laurito, the room shows views of the city by him, particularly one of the city during the 1530 plague showing the view from the Cathedral.

Room XI

This shows works from Mannerism to Caravaggism.

Room XII

This room displays works by Pietro Novelli and is named after him. These include an Annunciation in oil on canvas from Santa Maria delle Grazie di Montevergini church.

Room XIII

This displays 18th century works

Selected works

Restored works with temporary exhibitions: