Museo Civico e Gipsoteca Leonardo Bistolfi

Fantastic museum and we also had a personal tour by a student named Veronica who made the whole thing even better! We went on a Monday, but it isn't usually open on Mondays, as most shops etc aren't in Italy. Great variety of artwork set in the ground of an old Augustinian Monastery, where you can still see the 'lunettes' which are paintings in a triptic structure telling moral stories. Inside the vast majority is paintings apart from in the Gipoteca which is sculpture - great to see how they process of sculptures were made by the exhibition. Really worth having someone explain everything as you go round and it was wonderful having the place to ourselves! Very reasonably priced as well, definitely recommend!

(Translated by Google) Very interesting civic museum, well looked after with an excellent collection of paintings. The plaster cast gallery dedicated to Bistolfi is full of plaster works that fascinate the visitor. The visit ends with a tribute to Carlo Vidua, the great traveler. The museum complex is amazing. (Original) Museo civico molto interessante, ben curato con un’ottima raccolta di dipinti. La gipsoteca dedicata a Bistolfi è ricca di opere in gesso che affascina il visitatore. La visita si conclude con l’omaggio a Carlo Vidua grande viaggiatore. Stupendo il complesso museale.

(Translated by Google) How beautiful. A pearl in Monferrato. Many rooms. Many works. Friendly and prepared staff. Nice setups. The plaster cast part is sensational. Incredible plaster casts are preserved. Well done, good, good (Original) Che bello. Una perla nel Monferrato. Molte sale. Molte opere. Personale gentile e preparato. Begli allestimenti. La parte della gipsoteca è clamorosa. Sono conservati gessi incredibili. Bravi bravi bravi

(Translated by Google) The Bistolfi Civic Museum and Plaster Cast Gallery is housed in the ancient and evocative Augustinian convent of Santa Croce, decorated in the 17th century by Guglielmo Caccia, known as Moncalvo. The museum comprises twenty-four rooms and houses over five hundred works, divided into four main sections: the Art Gallery, the Leonardo Bistolfi Plaster Cast Gallery, the Bistolfi Deposit, and the Sala Vidua. The eighteen-room Art Gallery was founded thanks to the bequest of Countess Clara Leardi and has been enriched over time thanks to donations and various acquisitions. The collection includes casts and plaster casts by the local sculptor Bistolfi, paintings by Casale and Piedmontese artists from the 15th to the 20th century, canvases, ceramics, textiles, silverware, banners, and altar frontals, with works ranging from the late 14th to the late 19th century. The Vidua Room displays a selection of objects belonging to the local traveler and explorer Carlo Vidua, who, during his travels, collected objects from all kinds of places, peoples, and cultures. This interesting museum is open Thursdays (8:30-12:30; 14:30-16:30) and Fridays through Sundays (10:30-13:00; 15:00-18:30). Admission is €8 (free for holders of the Piedmont Museum Pass). (Original) Il Museo Civico e Gipsoteca Bistolfi ha sede nell’antico e suggestivo convento agostiniano di Santa Croce, decorato nel Seicento da Guglielmo Caccia, detto il Moncalvo. Il museo si sviluppa in ventiquattro sale e ospita oltre cinquecento opere, suddivise in quattro sezioni principali: la Pinacoteca, la Gipsoteca Leonardo Bistolfi, il Deposito visitabile Bistolfi e la Sala Vidua. Il percorso della Pinacoteca (diciotto sale), nasce dal lascito della contessa Clara Leardi, e si è arricchito nel tempo grazie a donazioni e varie acquisizioni. La collezione comprende calchi e gessi dello scultore locale Bistolfi, dipinti di artisti casalesi e piemontesi dal XV al XX secolo, tele, ceramiche, tessuti, argenti, stendardi e paliotti, con opere che spaziano dalla fine del Trecento alla fine dell’Ottocento. La Sala Vidua espone una selezione di oggetti appartenuti al viaggiatore ed esploratore locale Carlo Vidua il quale, durante i suoi viaggi, raccolse oggetti di ogni tipo di luoghi, popoli e culture diverse. Un interessante museo che è aperto giovedì (8:30-12:30; 14:30-16:30) e dal venerdì alla domenica (10:30-13; 15-18:30) ed il biglietto d’ingresso costa € 8 (gratuito per i possessori dell’Abbonamento Musei Piemonte).

(Translated by Google) Very nice. Especially the lower part, the plaster cast gallery. A little-publicized gem. (Original) Molto bello. Soprattutto per la parte inferiore, la gipsoteca. Una piccola chicca poco pubblicizzata.