The exhibition

The exhibition Giuseppe Primoli and the Allure of the Orient at the Napoleonic Museum explores Count Giuseppe Primoli’s interest in Japanese art and, more broadly, Asian culture. The exhibition focuses on 14 kakemono, Japanese scrolls with paintings or calligraphy on silk, cotton or paper, which are hung vertically in the corners of the house called tokonoma. These kakemono, which belonged to Count Primoli, are not only valuable works of art, but also unique historical documents. Primoli invited his guests to leave dedications and compositions on the free spaces of the kakemono, transforming them into testimonies of cultural encounters. Among the signatures present are those of famous French writers such as Emile Zola, Paul Claudel, Paul Valéry, Pierre Loti, Anatole France, Provençal poets, playwrights and even members of European royal families. In addition to the kakemono, the exhibition displays other significant objects from Primoli’s collection, including a fan with Japanese scenes, painted by Giuseppe de Nittis in Paris around 1880 for Mathilde Bonaparte, Napoleon’s niece. This collection, which combines Oriental art with European testimonies, offers a fascinating look at the cultural dialogue between the East and Europe in the late nineteenth century.

Napoleonic museum

The Napoleonic Museum in Rome is a hidden gem in the heart of the city, which tells the story of the Bonaparte family and the deep connection between Rome and the Napoleonic empire. It houses a collection donated to the city of Rome by Count Giuseppe Primoli, a descendant of Luciano Bonaparte, Napoleon’s brother. This donation represents a precious treasure of personal objects, portraits, sculptures, furniture and other memorabilia related to the Bonaparte dynasty.

Do not miss the exhibition Giuseppe Primoli and the Allure of the Orient at Museo Napoleonico in Rome and stay at 47 Boutique Hotel. For more formation visit the official website or ask our staff by writing to [email protected] or by going directly to the reception!