Est. 2017

About the Foundation

Building on the legacy of one of the world's oldest art dealerships to support serious work on pre-twentieth-century art and antiquities.

Our Mission

Championing Pre-Twentieth-Century Art

The Colnaghi Foundation is a UK charity that supports research, publication, and informed public engagement with pre-twentieth-century art, working with scholars, institutions, and archives to deepen understanding of earlier art and its histories.

Founded in 2017, the Foundation brings together scholars, curators, and institutions to develop research, publish new scholarship, and support conservation and public programmes. Its activities include the Colnaghi Studies Journal, specialist events and study forums, and ongoing work with archives that shed light on collecting histories and artistic practice.

Our Vision
"Through this work, the Foundation helps sustain informed discussion and wider access to historic art."
Leadership

Director

Candida Lodovica Chi

Director, Colnaghi Foundation

The Director oversees the strategic direction of the Colnaghi Foundation, guiding its scholarly, educational, and institutional activities, and ensuring alignment with the Foundation's long-term cultural mission.

Transparency

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is currently being expanded. As the Board develops, the order and presentation of governance roles may be updated accordingly.

Zanete Bukarte
Jeremy Howard
Karien Whitley
Michelle Mooney
Casilda Guerrero-Burgos Fernández de Córdoba

Editorial Committee

59 distinguished scholars worldwide

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Stijn Alsteens International Head of Old Master Drawings, Christie's
Jaynie Anderson Professor Emerita in Art History, The University of Melbourne
Charles Avery Art Historian specialising in European Sculpture (Italian, French, English)
Andrea Bacchi Director, Federico Zeri Foundation, Bologna
Ronna Bier Distinguished Curator and Lecturer, 17th-Century European Art, Princeton University
Colin Bailey Director, Morgan Library & Museum, New York
Piers Baker-Bates Visiting Honorary Associate in Art History, The Open University
Francesca Baldassari Professor, Sapienza Università di Roma
Bonaventura Bassegoda Catedrático, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Marco Simone Bolzoni Curator of Old Master and 19th-Century Drawings, The Deborah and Leon Black Collection, New York
Till-Holger Borchert Director, Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum, Aachen
Antonia Boström Art Historian, Curator, and Consultant

Editors

Editor-in-Chief: Irene Brooke
Editors: Nicola Jennings; Jeremy Howard
Associate Editor: Sophie Higginson
What We Do

Our Initiatives

01

Research & Publishing

The Foundation supports evidence-based research on pre-twentieth-century art and material culture. Through the Colnaghi Studies Journal and related projects, it provides a platform for new findings, reconsideration of known works, and historically grounded scholarship.

Our peer-reviewed publications bring together leading scholars worldwide, advancing understanding through rigorous methodologies. Over 200 articles have been published across 12+ journal issues, establishing new benchmarks for art historical research.

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02

Education & Public Programmes

Lectures and discussion events allow research to be shared. These programmes bring together students, scholars, museum professionals, and interested publics, encouraging informed engagement with historical art and its contexts.

From intimate seminars to major public lectures, our programmes have welcomed over 5,000 attendees. We partner with leading institutions to bring art history to diverse audiences, fostering the next generation of scholars and enthusiasts.

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03

Collaboration & Preservation

Working closely with museums, universities and archives, the Foundation helps support the responsible care, study, and documentation of historic artworks.

Our partnerships span across continents, connecting institutions that share our commitment to preserving cultural heritage. Current projects include conservation studies, cataloguing initiatives, and technical analysis programmes.

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04

Archives & Historical Memory

Archival research is central to the Foundation's work, particularly material connected with Colnaghi's long history. Making these resources accessible helps clarify collecting histories, market networks, and the broader conditions in which art has circulated.

The Colnaghi archive spans over 260 years of art dealing history. Our digitisation initiatives are making these invaluable records accessible to researchers worldwide, shedding light on provenance, attribution, and the evolution of the art market.

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History

A Legacy of Excellence

2017

Foundation Established

The Colnaghi Foundation was established as a UK charity to support scholarly research and public engagement.

2018

First Journal Published

Launch of the Colnaghi Studies Journal, a peer-reviewed scholarly publication.

Today

Continuing the Mission

17 journal issues published, numerous events hosted, and ongoing collaboration with institutions worldwide.

Partnerships

Collaboration & Partnerships

Collaboration is central to the Colnaghi Foundation's work and shapes how knowledge about art is produced and shared.

The Foundation works with museums, universities, archives, and cultural organisations to support research, conservation, and archive-led projects. By sustaining strong institutional relationships and encouraging shared thinking, the Foundation supports a stable and thoughtful environment for academic exchange and public understanding.

Academic Partners

Academic Institutions

The Foundation maintains close relationships with leading universities and research institutions, supporting scholarship through collaborative projects, lecture series, and research fellowships.

  • The Warburg Institute
  • Athena Art Foundation
  • World Monuments Fund
  • UNESCO World Heritage
  • Wallace Collection
  • Colnaghi Archive at Waddesdon Manor
  • Vatican Apostolic Library Archives
Research

Research Initiatives

Our research initiatives bring together scholars from around the world to investigate underexplored areas of art history and advance understanding of pre-twentieth-century art.

Current initiatives include provenance research programmes, conservation studies, and archival digitisation projects that make historical materials accessible to researchers globally.

Get Involved

Support Us

We welcome support from individuals, institutions, and anyone interested in advancing the study of pre-twentieth-century art. Your contribution helps fund research, publications, and educational programmes.

Get in Touch