Italy Chapter

The Italian Chapter of the Society for the History of Collecting (SHC) was established in 2021 through the initiative of Ginevra Odone and Pier Ludovico Puddu, both experts in the history of collecting. Following the formation of a Steering Committee and an Advisory Board — composed of distinguished scholars, curators, and professionals from across Italy — the Chapter launched its activities in the same year.

Since its inception, the Italian Chapter has organized a wide range of initiatives aimed at fostering scholarly exchange and public engagement. These include the thematic online lecture series Exploring the History of Collecting in the Main Italian Cities (2021–2024), which offered insights into the diverse collecting cultures of key urban centers, and the ongoing program Collections through Time: From the Private Sphere to the Public Atmosphere (2024–2026), which explores the transformation of private collections into public institutions. Complementing these events are a series of guided visits led by renowned experts and resident to historically significant collections and museums in cities such as Rome, Florence, and Venice, providing participants with direct access to artworks and archival materials.

The Chapter’s core objective is to create a dynamic network of scholars, curators, collectors, and students dedicated to the study of collecting practices in Italy and beyond. Particular emphasis is placed on supporting early-career researchers and promoting their work within an international context, thereby contributing to a more inclusive and diversified field of study. Aligning with the Society’s global mission, the dissemination of scholarly work to a wider audience lies at the centre of our programming. Through online lectures and seminars, in-person events, and social media posts, we aim to stimulate cross-disciplinary and international dialogue. Looking ahead, the Chapter has a dynamic program of future initiatives, including visits to private collections that are typically difficult to access, as well as talks about lesser-known or recently donated collections in public museums.

Italian Steering Committee

Heads of the Italian Committee: Dr. Ginevra Odone, Independent Scholar, Rome (former ATER, Aix-Marseille Université) and Dr. Pier Ludovico Puddu, Research Fellow at Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa

Dr. Sarah Coviello, Assistant Curator, Russborough House (Alfred Beit Foundation), Ireland

Flaminia Ferlito, PhD Student, Institute for Advanced Studies, Lucca and Predoctoral Research Fellow at Bibliotheca Hertziana of Rome, Max Planck Institute for Art History

Dr. Luca Giacomelli, Museum Assistant at Musei Reali, Torino

Dr. Claudio Gulli, Curator, Fondazione Palazzo Butera, Palermo

Dr. Alice S. Legé, Dr. Alice S. Legé, Curator at Montmartre Museum in Paris

Dr. Valeria Paruzzo, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Padua Lecturer at the University of Trento

Dr. Giuseppe Rizzo, Independent Scholar and Museum Assistant at The Uffizi Galleries of Florence

Italian Advisory Board

Professor Linda Borean, Università di Udine

Professor Giovanna Capitelli, Università degli studi Roma Tre

Dr. Patrizia Cavazzini, Research fellow, British School at Rome

Professor Paolo Coen, Università degli studi di Teramo

Silvia Danesi Squarzina, Professor Emeritus, Sapienza Università di Roma

Cristina De Benedictis, former professor at Università degli studi di Firenze