Collectors and benefactors

Stories told by tombs.
Trieste, city of collectors and benefactors

In the cultural landscape of Trieste between the 18th and 19th centuries, a pivotal role in fostering the economic and cultural growth of the city was played by collections and charity.
Trieste, thanks to the proclamation of the free port, became a centre characterised by a meteoric commercial and urban expansion, attracting families of different origins, drawn by favourable economic conditions and a policy of tolerance and religious freedom. This new elite devoted itself to collecting and patronage, buying works of art and precious objects from neighbouring markets such as Venice and Milan, and supporting artists and cultural institutions.
Prominent among the most illustrious families was the Fontana family, originally from Canton Ticino. Carlo d'Ottavio Fontana, pharmacist and collector, amassed a vast collection of ancient vases and coins, part of which was donated to the Museo Civico d’Antichità. His children, Carlo Antonio and Giuseppina, continued his collecting and charitable activities, with significant donations to Trieste's museums.
The Sartorio family, originally from Sanremo, made an outstanding financial and cultural contribution. The key figures are Giovanni Guglielmo and Pietro Sartorio, married to Giuseppina Fontana. Their descendants further enriched the art collection and the last heir, Anna Sartorio, left the family home and the collections housed in it to the City of Trieste, setting up the Sartorio Museum.
The Morpurgo family, with Jewish roots, arrived in Trieste and established itself in the banking and commercial sector. Giuseppe Morpurgo, President of Assicurazioni Generali, devoted his time to charity and social advancement. The family collection, expanded by Marco Morpurgo, includes works by Palma the Younger and Velasquez.
The liberal-minded Franellich family made a name for itself with its impressive picture gallery and support for charity. Luigi Franellich, lawyer and collector, donated numerous objects to the Museo Civico d’Antichità and financed city monuments.
The Kalister family, originally from what is now southwestern Slovenia, was involved in patronage and culture. Franc Kalister built Palazzo Kalister and set up an international art collection, which was sold at auction in Munich in 1908.
The Currò family, of Sicilian origin, established themselves in the citrus fruit trade and devoted their time to charity. Their son Rosario Currò, a distinguished collector, bequeathed a vast collection of works of art and exotic objects to museums in Trieste.
Finally Giuseppe de Marenzi should be remembered, member of the historic Trieste nobility, who with his generous endowment contributed to the building of the Ginnasio Italiano. Then also Carlo Zanella, Lloyd agent for Asia, whose legacy forms a large part of the collections of the Museo d’Arte Orientale di Trieste, and Giuseppina Oblasser who left to museums paintings, watercolours and an Egyptology collection of great value.
Collecting and charity work were useful tools for consolidating the social prestige of Trieste families, and also left a cultural legacy that still enriches the city today.