National Museum of San Matteo, Pisa

National Museum of San Matteo
Museo Nazionale di San Matteo
Location piazza San Matteo 1, lungarno Mediceo, Pisa Italy
Type archaeology, Art museum, Historic site

The National Museum of San Matteo in Pisa (Museo Nazionale di San Matteo) displays works from historic ecclesiastical buildings in the city and Province of Pisa.

Collections

The works span from early Medieval period to the 1500s. The collection includes sculptural masterworks by Nicola Pisano and Donatello. It has a rich collection of antique paintings, including works by Berlinghiero Volterrano, Giunta Pisano, Simone Martini, Lippo Memmi, Francesco Traini, Masaccio, Beato Angelico, Benozzo di Lese, and Ghirlandaio. The museum also has a collection of medieval illuminated manuscripts, wooden religious sculpture from 1200s to 1400s, and antique ceramics.

History

The nucleus of the collection was initially started by a 1796 endowment by the Canon of the Pisa Cathedral, Sebastiano Zucchetti. Furthor works were added after the Napoleonic closure of many religious establishments, and through the Academy of Fine Arts. In 1893, a local Jewish citizen, Igino Benvenuto Supino, helped found the Pisan Museo Civico. using works from this museum, in 1949, the present Museo Nazionale was installed in the restored medieval Convent of San Matteo in Soarta.

Sources

Coordinates: 43°42′52″N 10°24′27″E / 43.7145°N 10.4076°E