FONDAZIONE BIBLIOTECA MORCELLI – PINACOTECA REPOSSI

Keeper of History and Driver of the Clarene Future

Located in the heart of Chiari, the Morcelli Library Foundation - Repossi Art Gallery represents one of the most prestigious cultural centres in Lombardy. Recognised as a legal entity in 1966 with Presidential Decree No. 624, the institution is not just an archive of the past, but a vital infrastructure connecting culture, education and society.

A legacy based on gratitude

The very name of the Foundation is a tribute to the foresight of its founding fathers, two figures who profoundly marked the intellectual identity of the area:

• Stefano Antonio Morcelli (1737-1821): An internationally renowned ecclesiastical scholar and famous epigrapher. Formerly librarian to Cardinal Albani in Rome, he was parish priest of Chiari for thirty years, leaving a legacy of priceless knowledge.
• Pietro Bartolomeo Repossi (1776-1854): A lawyer of Milanese origin and refined collector, whose passion for art made it possible to establish the original nucleus of the picture gallery.

A timeless heritage

The organisation now harmonises two souls of excellence:

• The Library: A true temple of knowledge that holds about 80,000 volumes, including rare manuscripts and incunabula that make it a point of reference for academic research.
• The Art Gallery: A gallery featuring paintings, sculptures and one of the most significant collections of prints and engravings of northern Italy, evidence of centuries of graphic evolution.

Civil and cultural synthesis

Today, the Foundation is not only the compendium of Chiari's educational and civic-social history, but acts as strategic bridge between political, administrative and educational institutions. It is the place to which the community returns to draw inspiration, outlining projects that give life and vigour to the human and cultural fabric of the city.

📩 To contact the museum, please write an e-mail to [email protected].