One of the most important collections
in the world, covering the technical path that
led to the birth of Cinema. It consists of two
great collections: the "Maria Adriana Prolo
Collection" and the "Barnes Collection".
PROLO
COLLECTION
The "Maria Adriana Prolo
Collection" counts 3,500 items regarding
the spectacular accomplishments of the late
18th and early 19th century: about 100 magic
lanterns, 2000 magic lantern slides, some
precious mondo niovi, various models of optical
boxes form the 18th century, 500 optical views.
It also includes an exceptionally rare collection
of more than 200 historic documents on the
development and the circulation of optical
shows: prints, paintings, drawings, pottery,
statues, fans and a noteworthy set of promotional
posters.
3,500 items
BARNES
COLLECTION
The "Barnes Collection"
consists of 2,800 items and was acquired in
1994 from the English brothers John and William
Barnes. The museum's collection has been thus
enriched by rare prints, a group of 100 magic
lanterns and more than 2000 projection slides
and also by a precious collection of various
objects used for the first studies on the
moving image.
