The Art Institute to open “once-in-a-lifetime exhibition,” Myth and Marble

The Art Institute of Chicago will soon introduce the Torlonia Collection, bringing a treasure trove of Roman artistry to North America for the very first time. Running from March 15 to June 29, 2025, this extraordinary showcase will feature 58 stunning sculptures, including 24 newly restored masterpieces that have remained hidden from public view for nearly a century.

The Torlonia Collection, based in Italy, is the largest private collection of Roman marble sculptures, comprising 622 works. Its significance rivals major European institutions, including the Capitoline and Vatican Museums. Many of the sculptures in the exhibition, dating from the 5th century BCE to the early 4th century CE, have undergone conservation and research efforts specifically for this presentation.

“We curated the show with the goal of making ancient history resonate with a modern audience. Both ancient Roman art enthusiasts and first-time museumgoers alike will appreciate these marvelous works,” said Lisa Ayla Çakmak, Mary and Michael Jaharis Chair and Curator, Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium in a press release. “Visitors truly have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see selections of this exquisite collection while it’s in Chicago.”

The exhibition will be organized into seven thematic sections, beginning with the collection’s most iconic works. Among the highlights are large-scale figures of gods and goddesses, portraits of emperors, and elaborate funerary monuments. One section will explore imperial portraits, including a selection of female depictions.

“This significant group of portraits allows us to highlight the critical role that imperial images played in visually reinforcing dynastic succession throughout the broader Roman Empire,” said Katharine A. Raff, Elizabeth McIlvaine Curator, Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium in a press release. “In particular, the portraits of women offer an important opportunity to examine the behind-the-scenes ‘soft’ power and influence held by many women of elite Roman families.”

Another section will showcase sculptures found on the Torlonia family’s properties in and around Rome and their estate in Porto, Italy, an area historically vital as a Roman harbor. Among the collection’s earliest pieces is a Classical Greek relief from the late 5th century BCE, notable for its detailed craftsmanship.

Myth and Marble: Ancient Roman Sculpture from the Torlonia Collection is co-organized by the Art Institute of Chicago and The Torlonia Foundation, in collaboration with the Kimbell Art Museum, Musée des beaux-arts Montréal, and The Museum Box. The exhibition is curated by Çakmak and Raff.

To learn more about the exhibition and buy tickets visit the Art Institute of Chicago website.