Starting from the 17th century a flourishing art market was settled in Italy and merchants were skilled in acquiring and selling Italian ancient statuary and paintings in other European countries as England and France.
Italian aristocratic families sold their collections of works of art in time of financial crisis like, for instance, the Gonzaga family and these collection can be found now in the English Picture Galleries.
Many Italian works of art can be found in France’s museums, above all in the Louvre, as a result of Napoleon’s conquests. During the Italian campaign from 1796 onwards Napoleon spoiled the Italian peninsula of hundreds of artifacts considered spoils of the war. Only partially they were returned to Italy after the Vienna council of 1815, many remained in France.
Italian aristocratic families sold their collections of works of art in time of financial crisis like, for instance, the Gonzaga family and these collection can be found now in the English Picture Galleries.
Many Italian works of art can be found in France’s museums, above all in the Louvre, as a result of Napoleon’s conquests. During the Italian campaign from 1796 onwards Napoleon spoiled the Italian peninsula of hundreds of artifacts considered spoils of the war. Only partially they were returned to Italy after the Vienna council of 1815, many remained in France.