National Gallery, Art museum in Palazzo dei Priori, Perugia, Italy
The National Gallery is an art museum housed in the medieval Palazzo dei Priori in central Perugia, displaying artworks across about forty exhibition rooms on two floors. The palace itself is an imposing Gothic building with a stone facade and characteristic windows, and the collection spans thousands of objects ranging from paintings to sculptures and decorative arts.
The collection originated from the holdings of the Academy of Drawing in the 16th century and expanded significantly in the 1800s through the nationalization of church-owned artworks. This merger of academic and religious works made the museum a major repository for preserving Italian art history.
The collection shows Italian paintings, sculptures, textiles, and goldsmith works spanning several centuries, with focus on artists of the Umbrian Renaissance. These works tell the story of the region's artistic heritage and how it shaped local identity.
The museum is located on Corso Vannucci, one of the main streets of the old town, and is easily reachable on foot. The collection is spread across two floors, so visitors should expect stairs and allow time for a leisurely visit.
The museum holds a rare sketch in red chalk and ink by Federico Barocci, an important work that shows how artists of his time worked. This drawing belongs to a varied collection that documents the sketching techniques of different periods.
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