Cassioli Museum in Asciano
Exhibition of the works by the 19th century painters from Siena
The Cassioli Museum was set up thanks to the generous donation of the Cassioli family, originally from Asciano, to the local community. Set up inside the town's former elementary schools, the museum is devoted to the painter Amos Cassioli from Asciano and his son Giuseppe, but also houses a substantial number of works from the Liceo Artistico (high school dedicated to the arts) "Duccio di Buoninsegna" in Siena, once the Academy of Fine Arts, the place where Amos honed his artistic skills.
In the first part of the exhibit, the collection enables to appreciate the fascinating world of the Academy of Siena, as well as its leading figures: Cesare Maccari, Angelo Visconti, Cristiano Banti, Francesco Nenci, Pietro Aldi, all important artists who fully represent Purism typical of Siena.
The second part of the museum is devoted to the artistic journey of Amos and Giuseppe Cassioli, and alongside a substantial number of paintings by Amos Cassioli, author of the battle scenes in the famous "Sala del Risorgimento" in the Palazzo Pubblico in Siena, the path also features an interesting section of graphics and sculpture. In fact, if Amos Cassioli stood out mainly for his portrait skills, his son Giuseppe extended his studies to sculpture. He worked on important projects, such as the bronze door of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, the funeral monument of Gioacchino Rossini, and the dome of San Luca in Bologna, as well as receiving prestigious commissions abroad.
The international profile of this artist is especially evident starting from 1927, when he won the Competition sponsored by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) to create the prototype medal to be awarded at the Olympic Games.
Cassioli's medal was awarded to winning athletes for as many as seventeen Olympic editions: from Amsterdam 1928 until Sydney 2000. A unique and exceptional fact that brings the artist's name to the fore, making him famous throughout the world.
