The Pinacoteca «Giuseppe De Nittis» is a museum in Barletta dedicated to the painter Giuseppe De Nittis, a son of the city; it is housed in Palazzo della Marra, on via Cialdini, and periodically hosts temporary exhibitions.
What to see
The museum keeps the works by De Nittis donated to the city by his wife, Léontine Gruvelle: according to the sources 146 paintings, 65 drawings and numerous publications. The painter's output touches on different themes, inspired by places around the world, such as views of cities and horse races; also important are the en plein air scenes and the portraits, in many cases with Léontine as the model. Among the temporary exhibitions hosted have been De Nittis e Tissot. Pittori della vita moderna (2006), Zandomeneghi, De Nittis e Renoir. I pittori della felicità (2007), Paris 1900. La collezione del Petit Palais di Parigi (2008) and De Nittis segreto (2010-11).
The pinacoteca was first housed in the former Dominican convent, on via Cavour; then, after the renovation of the Castle of Barletta, it found a place in the rooms on the first floor of the Federician fortress. The proximity of the sea, considered potentially risky, led in 2007 to the move to Palazzo della Marra, recently renovated. In 2023 the first American retrospective of the artist was held in Washington and in 2024 a major retrospective in Milan.
Visiting
The pinacoteca is in Palazzo della Marra, on via Cialdini, in Barletta. The sources consulted give neither hours nor tickets: these should be checked on the official website of the museums of Barletta (barlettamusei.it), also for the exhibitions on show.
Our editors' tip
Palazzo della Marra is on via Cialdini, the same street as the church of San Gaetano; the museum was first housed in the former Dominican convent, the same one as the basilica of San Domenico, on corso Garibaldi.
