Cortona is the birthplace of Gino Severini (1883–1966), a leading figure of Futurism and a central protagonist of twentieth-century European art. In recent years, the bond between the artist and his hometown has been significantly strengthened thanks to the donation of an important group of works and archival materials by Romana Severini, which complemented the earlier donations made by the family in the late 1960s.
This heritage is now displayed on the third floor of Palazzo Casali, home of the MAEC, and forms the core of a broader enhancement project supported by the PAC – Piano per l’Arte Contemporanea 2024, promoted by the Directorate-General for Contemporary Creativity of the Italian Ministry of Culture.
The project “Gino Severini. A Life in the Sign of Cortona, Rome and Paris” has created a structured cultural system that brings together: new permanent museum sections, the Severini-Franchina Archive, urban itineraries connecting the artist’s works and places, educational and workshop activities, meetings with universities and scholars, and a dedicated guide featuring a map and digital content accessible via QR code.
From the MAEC to the Diocesan Museum, from the Cathedral to the Church of San Marco, and through the more intimate places of his biography, Cortona tells its story through the traces left by the artist.
The journey toward 2026, marking the sixtieth anniversary of his death, will culminate in a major celebratory exhibition. Yet the goal is even broader: to build a permanent Severini System, capable of welcoming scholars and visitors while offering a comprehensive vision of the twentieth-century culture that can still be felt throughout the city today. Severini is not merely memory — he is a living presence, diffused among museums, churches, archives, and narrow streets.
