A volume dedicated to the history of the new Vatican Picture Gallery, conceived at the behest of Pope Pius XI and inaugurated in 1932 in a structure specially built in order to definitively house the painting collection. The Picture Gallery, which is in continual expansion due to bequests and acquisitions, gathers together in eighteen chronologically arranged rooms the masterpieces of some of the greatest European painters from the Medieval period to the nineteenth century.
The book offers a fresh perspective on the antiquities trade in early modern Rome, exploring the entire journey of objects from their discovery to their eventual display. It delves into the processes, cultural significance, and economic implications of antiquities during this period, providing insights into the historical context and the interplay between collectors, dealers, and the art market. This examination reveals the complexities and dynamics of how these artifacts shaped and reflected the society of the time.