The Estense Gallery reopened in Modena three years after the earthquake in Emilia Romagna. Indeed, the event damaged the museum but now, 600 artworks including 327 paintings, 40 sculptures and 50 pieces held in deposits, are now again on display after a major restoration.

The Gallery contains one of the most important collections in Italy, since it includes masterpieces by Cosmè Tura and Bernini, as well by Velazquez, Guido Reni, Tintoretto and many others. The collections go back to 400 years ago, when the Estense family moved from Ferrara to Modena and gave life to one of the smallest royal courts in Europe. The family was especially recognized for the influence on models of art and beauty. The Estense Gallery was take to its highest levels of richness thanks to Duke Francis I (1629-1658), and has been included in the list of the 20 autonomous Italian museums.

The influence of the Este family is represented by the masterpieces coming from Dosso Dossi, Carracci, Guercino, Guido Reni, and Tintoretto, as well as the portraits of the duke by Velazquez and Bernini, which survived Napoleonic looting.
The museum contains 16th century masterpieces that decorated the Estense Castle in Ferrara and other ducal residences.

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