18th Century Italian Art

The exhibition celebrates the relationship of loyalty between Cherasco and the Savoy dynasty through centuries (XVIth-XXth century). The incessant patronage and preference determined the town’s fortune during the Modern Age.
The urban pattern developed inside impressive natural walls which enclosed Cherasco as a sort of acropolis crossed by a widespread net of canals. The water supply was at the basis of the town healthiness and economic development. During the five hundred years of Savoy dynasty’s dominion many churches, brotherhood oratories, sumptuous aristocracy palaces with inner gardens were erected and Cherasco, time after time, played the role of the fortress on the occasion of wars and sieges as well as of location for diplomatic peace negotiations.
The history begins emblematically from 1563 when the Duchy capital was moved by Emanuele Filiberto to the Piedomontese side of the Alps, from Chambery to Turin. The itinerary ends with an overview of the events which followed the last capital transfers - now the capital of the Italian nation - to Florence and finally to Rome.
The time of the political history is marked by the sovereigns’ portraits, on loan by the Savoy palaces and private collectors: the apaintings show their grandeur, the tastes and styles changes through their dresses, clothes, jewels and decorations. Many other important objects come from the Archivio di Stato of Turin, Museo della Sindone of Turin, and from Cherasco culturae institutions: Museo Giovanni Battista Adriani, Consorzio Irriguo Canale Sarmassa, MUDI-Sant’Iffredo church.
The urban life time is marked by the Cherasco people who made, transformed, animated, and described it. Many different personalities, some famous and others unknown, who are stille alive through their portraits and evidences of their works and roles, starting from the chroniclers as Francesco Voersio (1562-1634) and Giovanni Francesco Damillano (1731-1808). Quotations from their literary works depict the most important events eveoked in the exhibition: from the legendary brief appareance of the duchess Cristina of France during the Holy Thursday procession of 1631 to the amazing Baroque parades which passed throug the town between XVIIth and XVIIIth century.
Giovanni Battista Adriani, great scholar from Cherasco, who lived in the XIXth century, after his death left to the town his impressive collections, formerly displayed in his house - a real place o mirabilia - which are the core of the town museum.
The powerful dynasties’ palaces, such as those of Galli della Mantica, Guerra, Morozzo, Fracassi, embellished the urban scene. The ever-present Salmatoris family hosted dukes, kings, “Madame Reali”, queens and even Napoleon. Nowadays this palace significantly host this exhibition. Here, thought for a few weeks, came back the leading actors, the documents, the Savoy dynastic relic of the Holy Shroud, remembered by the silk and wood roller on which it was preserved in the past, which distinguish the different phases of Cherasco history.