European Dynasties on Lake Como

The exhibition explores a significant yet hitherto little-explored chapter in the history of the prestigious residence situated in Tremezzina, exploring the artistic and cultural context associated with one of the continent’s most important aristocratic families. The exhibition traces the period from 1843, the year in which the residence was purchased by Marianna of Orange-Nassau, princess of the Netherlands, and 1914, the year of the Duke’s death George II of Saxe-Meiningen.

The exhibition project, curated by Maria Angela Previtera and Elena Lissoni, was created to mark the bicentenary of the birth of George II, consort of the princess Charlotte of Prussia a well-known and cultured figure who came to be known as “the Duke of the Theatre” for his contribution to the renewal of the European dramatic and musical scene. Featuring paintings, sculptures, exquisite ceramic, glass and silver furnishings, and period documents, the exhibition brings together works held by the museum and previously unseen material resulting from recent donations and international loans from private collections and renowned institutions such as the Meininger Museums, the Royal Collections of the Netherlands, the Venerable Ambrosian Library e Paleis Het Loo.

The tour also highlights the role of the distinguished figures who frequented this sophisticated meeting place of the Lake Como, like the writer Mary Shelley, the composer Johannes Brahms, the politician Giuseppe Radetzky and members of European royal families, weaving local history into a broader and more fascinating continental cultural context.