Vincenzo Camuccini (Rome, 1771–1844) was a distinguished painter, skilled draughtsman and restorer, as well as being regarded as one of the leading figures in academic culture at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. His extensive body of work ranged from large-scale historical paintings, which successfully blend classicism with a contemporary sensibility, to portraits of great expressive intensity.
Camuccini made a name for himself in the cultural circles of his time by holding senior positions in numerous Institutes, including the Accademia di San Luca (Academy of San Luca) (as Prince in 1806 and 1826) and the Congregation of the Virtuosi at the Pantheon. In fact, he was the only artist officially commissioned to depict the skeleton of Raffaello Sanzio, discovered during the excavation of his tomb, organised by the Virtuosi in 1833.
He was also a restorer and a passionate advocate of integrative restoration, as well as a discerning collector. Further evidence of his versatile personality is provided by the crucial role Camuccini played as a conservator, curator and administrator of cultural heritage, both in the Papal States and in the Kingdom of Naples.

On Tuesday 26 May, the Museum of Rome – Palazzo Braschi will host the conference 'Vincenzo Camuccini: between Art and Power', a joint initiative organised by the Museum and the Pontificia Accademia dei Virtuosi al Pantheon (Pontifical Academy of the Virtuosi al Pantheon), made possible thanks to the support of the Directorate-General for Libraries and Cultural Institutes of the Ministry of Culture (MiC).
The conference dedicated to Vincenzo Camuccini aims to address the variety of elements that characterise the personal and intellectual biography and the legacy of this artist, who was so pivotal to the Roman tradition and, more generally, to the history of art between the Napoleonic era and the Restoration.
During the break between the first and second sessions of talks, visitors will be able to visit the restoration workshop for Vincenzo Camuccini’s "Deposition from the Cross", 1833 (post).

Conference Programme

10.00 am Opening Remarks

Ilaria Miarelli Mariani, Director of Musei Civici della Sovrintendenza Capitolina
Cristiana Perrella, President of the Pontificia Accademia dei Virtuosi al Pantheon

10.30 am Presentations – Session I

Moderator: Alice Militello, art historian

Adriano Amendola, University of Salerno
Vincenzo Camuccini: drawing, the academy and portraiture

Pier Ludovico Puddu, Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa
The issue of the Old Master Paintings ‘by’ Vincenzo Camuccini

Federica Giacomini, Central Institute for Restoration
Vincenzo Camuccini: between protection, conservation and museums

12.00 pm Break

Coffee break and tour of the restoration workshop for Vincenzo Camuccini’s work, The Descent
from the Cross, 1833 (post)

12.30 pm Presentations Session II

Vanda Lisanti, “Gabriele d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara
Vincenzo Camuccini and the museum system during the Restoration

Carla Mazzarelli, University of Italian Switzerland
Vincenzo Camuccini within the “Museum of Rome”: sociality and networks of patronage in
the Restoration era

Michela D’Agostino, University of Rome Tor Vergata
Sofya Utvenko, art historian
Women painters in Vincenzo Camuccini’s Rome: the cases of Matilde Malenchini and Luisa Bersani

Q&A – Closing

Conference Venue: Museum of Rome – Palazzo Braschi, Tenerani Room, 3rd floor, Piazza di San Pantaleo 10, 00186 – Rome

Registration: Free admission to the conference room, subject to availability

Contact: Pontificia Accademia dei Virtuosi al Pantheon (www.accademiavirtuosi.it and segreteriaaccademiavirtuosi.it)