Two art gallery and museum in Montepulciano dedicated to Salvador Dalí

A project in which Beniamino Levi and his team will propose different exhibitions every year

Beniamino Levi is rightfully regarded as one of the greatest collectors of Dalí’s art in the world, but his collection also includes artworks by Picasso, Chagall and other great masters of the 20th century.

He had built a real friendship with Salvador Dalí when the artist was still alive, and this relationship resulted in an extraordinary collection, including drawings, bronze statues and ‘objet’ which Levi now exhibits in his permanent and temporary museums all around the world. His first permanent museum was inaugurated in Montmartre, Paris 35 years ago and is still active. Since then, the collection has expanded adding more than 150 temporary exhibitions located all over the world.

Casanova

In Tuscany, after the opening in Cortona, a new project was recently inaugurated in Montepulciano, where Levi and his team – Ferruccio Carminati, Luigi De Stasio and Aglaia Carminati – will arrange different exhibitions every year in the beautiful setting of the historic Palazzo Bracci: one museum and two art galleries housing a collection of bronzes, drawings and objects by Salvador Dalí and various contemporary art.

Everything is harmoniously integrated within the city. An installation of a large 4-metre-tall bronze sculpture depicting the mythological character of Terpsichore (the Muse of dance) has been placed in front of Porta al Prato, almost like a ‘welcome sign’ from the city to the visitors of Montepulciano.

The first exhibition opens in April with Eat me, an original exhibition which focuses on Salvador Dalí’s obsession with food, including paintings, sculptures, design objects and rare pieces such as collages and tarot cards.

Silverwear set

The layout includes more than 100 pieces produced over fifty years and touching themes such as taste, surrealism and philosophy. Also, meetings with science and culture experts will be regularly held at the art gallery, reflecting the interdisciplinary interests of Dalí himself which ranged from psychoanalysis, to mathematics and physics. This project has educational objectives with special programs designed for schools and accessible to all the public, thanks to the support of the city.

Finally, an interesting fact. Beniamino Levi is the greatest collector of bronze sculptures by Salvador Dalí. The Catalan master produced many artworks in a limited series, and when the print run does not exceed 12 copies, they are considered ‘original’. If there are more than 12 copies, they are defined ‘multiples’. In the art gallery of Montepulciano, there will be original artworks on display, as well as single and multiple pieces.