Museo Civico Luigi Mallé

Dronero (CN)

AM Piedmont and Aosta Valley

Inaugurated in 1995, the Luigi Mallé Civic Museum is one of the most important cultural institutions in Piedmont and represents a fundamental element of the historical and artistic heritage of Dronero, the main town at the mouth of the picturesque Maira Valley.

Elegante sala con divano e poltrone imbottite sotto una parete decorata da ritratti pittorici e stampe antiche.

Inaugurated in 1995, the Luigi Mallé Civic Museum in Dronero represents one of the most significant cultural resources of Piedmont and forms an integral part of the historical and artistic heritage of the city of Dronero, main village on the slopes of the Maira Valley. The museum is housed in the historic home of the Mallé, dating back to the 18th century, donated to the Droner community by Luigi Mallé in 1976 through a testamentary bequest that included his entire personal art collection.

Luigi Mallé (Turin, 1920 - 1979), a leading figure of Piedmontese culture in the second half of the 20th century, was for a long time curator of the City Museums of Turin and, from 1965, took over as its director, curating important exhibitions devoted to, among others, Hans Hartung, Robert Motherwell, Lucio Fontana, to the Conceptual Art, Arte Povera e Land Art.

The museum has three floors, where both the permanent collection that the temporary exhibitions, accompanied by cycles of lectures, educational courses for schools and collaborations with local cultural institutions. Of particular note is the permanent collection, arranged in chronological order from 16th to 20th century, with thematic sections dedicated to portrait and the landscape, together with a fine nucleus of works by the Dutch and Flemish school of the 17th century and masters of Piedmontese Baroque such as Charles Dauphin e John Baptist Crosato. The exhibition moves on to 20th century art, with works by Lucio Fontana, Graham Sutherland e Julio Gonzales, now also enhanced through an innovative digital video animation that allows for immersive and contemporary enjoyment.

Paintings, sculptures, Meissen ceramics, Gallé and Daum Art Nouveau vases, period photographs, Rococo prints, drawings and furnishings testify to the breadth and quality of the collection, a reflection of Luigi Mallé's tireless passion for art. With a far-sighted spirit and genuine patronage, he wanted to transmitting the universal values of culture and beauty, making its collection shared heritage of the community and a living source of knowledge.