The Architecture of Rationalism
Located in the heart of Pescara, Italy, the Imago Museum occupies the former headquarters of the Banco di Napoli. The building was constructed in 1933 and represents a significant example of Italian Rationalism. Its design is defined by a strict linearity of forms and volumes, emphasizing functionality and the rejection of unnecessary decoration. The structure prioritizes essentialism, utilizing the inherent qualities of its materials and the simplicity of its geometry to create a sense of order. This architectural clarity provides a disciplined framework for the art housed within its walls.
The museum is organized across three floors, offering 1200 square meters of exhibition space. The layout includes a hall for temporary exhibitions and various rooms dedicated to permanent collections. The interior environment reflects the principles of the era in which it was built, focusing on the relationship between space, light, and structural necessity.
The Permanent Collections
The museum holds several distinct collections that trace the development of 20th and 21st-century art. These holdings include significant works of Danish art and a focus on 20th-century figurative painting. A notable portion of the permanent collection is dedicated to a retrospective of Mario Schifano, an artist central to the Italian contemporary scene. The curation emphasizes the dialogue between different movements and the evolution of visual language throughout the last century.
The catalog of works includes several notable pieces, such as:
- Wedding procession in Civita d'Antino., 1896 by Kristian Zahrtmann
- A young girl with a water vessel in Italy, 2000 by Niels Frederik Schiøttz-Jensen
- Anticoli. Women by the fountain, 1900 by Emil Krause
- Civita d'Antino., 1877 by Henrik Olrik
- Porta Flora staircase in Civita d'Antino, 1911 by Knud Sinding
- Cloudy day in Civita d'Antino, 1890 by Peter Tom-Petersen
- Village in the Apennine Mountains., 1916 by Carl Holsøe
- View from the garden of Palazzo Ferrante in Civita d'Antino., 1915 by Johan Rohde
- Landscape at Civita d'Antino, 1893 by Peter Tom-Petersen
- Italian countryside, 1924 by Knud Sinding
- Eric IV (Eric Wallace, 1938–2004), 2004 by Bridget Cox
- From Civita d'Antino., 1927 by Johan Rohde
- Harvest in Italy, 1913 by Aage Bertelsen
- View of the Roveto Valley in Abruzzo, 1937 by Knud Sinding
- Stairway in Civita d'Antino., 1889 by Kristian Zahrtmann
- View from Abruzzo, 1890 by Peder Severin Krøyer
- Civita d'Antino framed by the mountains, 1939 by Knud Sinding
- Italians collecting firewood., 1904 by Peter Hansen
- Thrashing in Abruzzo. Study., 1890 by Peder Severin Krøyer
- Threshing in Civita d'Antino. Pastel, 1890 by Peder Severin Krøyer
- An Italian village with women at the fountain, 1916 by Carl Holsøe
Institutional Context
The museum is promoted by the Fondazione Pescarabruzzo. It functions as a cultural hub within the urban fabric of Pescara, situated between Corso Vittorio Emanuele II and Piazza Sacro Cuore. The institution maintains a scientific committee to oversee its artistic direction. Beyond its permanent holdings, the museum hosts temporary exhibitions that engage with modern, contemporary, and photographic art. The facility is open from Tuesday to Sunday, with specific hours for morning and afternoon sessions.