Palace Sciarra

Exhibition "Il Tesoro di San Gennaro"

The exhibition - “The Treasure of San Gennaro” - sponsored by the Fondazione Roma and organized by the Fondazione Roma – Arte – Musei in collaboration with the Museum of the Treasure of San Gennaro took a number of masterpieces from the most important jewelry collection in the world outside of Naples for the very first time. These pieces were displayed alongside original documents, paintings, illustrations, vestments, altar cloths and holy vestments that tell the extraordinary story of a religion, a city and a group of people.

With 25 million faithful throughout the world, San Gennaro is the most famous and most well known Catholic saint in the world. His treasure is truly one of a kind. More precious than the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom or the jewels of the Czar of Russia, this collection has been formed over 700 years of history thanks to numerous donations by popes, emperors, kings and ordinary people. It has remained intact over the years without ever having been sold off or stolen.

Exhibition design: Guicciardini&Magni Architects

Museological design: Paolo Jorio (Museum of San Gennaro)

The challenge

The show features more than 90 priceless works that follow a scientific and emotional journey dedicated to the cult of San Gennaro and Neapolitan jewelry making, which has helped bring to life most of the masterpieces on display. Goppion created the display case for the two masterpieces at the center of the exhibition. The necklace of San Gennaro in gold, silver and precious stones created in 1679 and the and the miter headdress in gold-plated silver with 3,326 diamonds, 164 rubies, 198 emeralds and 2 garnets created in 1713, making the piece 300 years old.

The solution

The two display cases are island models covered entirely in extra-clear crystal. These cases have high-level features of preventative conservation. Relative humidity control relies on a silica-gel based passive system while magnetic gaskets guarantee air tightness.

Security is tight with a tamper-proof system, which is guaranteed thanks to the use of two different types of locks – one that is mechanical and another that is electrical and was studied and created especially for the display cases. The edges and corners of the display cases are protected by steel reinforcements. The inside is made up of a plinth in a shade of optical black to bring out the sparkle in the precious pieces on display. Knowing use of lighting from above also serves to accentuate the pieces with focused LED spotlights that also reduce the light spectrum in order to make sure the details stand out

Both of the display cases belong to System Q, the complete line of museum display cases that offer the highest-level results as for what Goppion has to offer in terms of engineering and aesthetics. This system can be easily personalized and is able to meet all exhibition needs.