The Gallery of Fine Art/National Gallery and the Farnese Theater

The Gallery of Fine Art, now called the National Gallery, was established under the rule of Duke Philip of Bourbon in 1757 and improved upon by Paolo Toschi under the reign of Marie Louise.
The building was completely restored, beginning in the seventies, and offers incredible views of the Pilotta and the Farnese Theater. 

The art works are arranged chronologically and lead up to Correggio’s masterpieces, including the Madonna of San Girolamo and Scodella. Parmigianino’s works are hanging nearby.

The gallery is considered one of the most important in Italy and houses works by Angelico, Leonardo, Cima da Conegliano, El Greco, Holbein, Van Dyck, Bronzino, Carracci, Sebastiano del Piombo, Tiepolo, Piazzetta, and Canaletto. 

There are also works from early Tuscan and Emilian schools that were collected by the Dukes of Parma, 18th century French portraits, and the winning paintings and drawings from the Parma Academy of Fine Art competitions.  The headquarters of the Academy are now located inside the Art Institute, and contain precious objects from the Academy’s glorious past. There are 19th century tools and machines used by the skilled engraver, Paolo Toschi, and sketches of the grand Giuseppe Verdi monument, which was destroyed in the World War II.