Initiatives
Four interconnected pillars supporting our mission to advance research, education, and public understanding of pre-twentieth-century art.
Our Work
The Colnaghi Foundation's work is organised around four core initiatives that work in concert to advance the study and appreciation of pre-twentieth-century art.
Each initiative represents a vital aspect of our mission, from supporting rigorous scholarship to making historical art accessible to contemporary audiences.
Research & Publishing
The Foundation supports careful, evidence-based research on pre-twentieth-century art and material culture, providing platforms for new findings and historically grounded scholarship.
The Colnaghi Studies Journal
Our flagship peer-reviewed journal has published over 200 articles across multiple issues, establishing new benchmarks for art historical research. Each issue brings together leading scholars to present original research, new attributions, and fresh perspectives on known works.
Research Support
Beyond publication, we provide grants, fellowships, and institutional support for research projects that advance understanding of pre-twentieth-century art. Our initiatives encourage methodological rigor and interdisciplinary approaches.
Highlights
- → Peer-reviewed scholarly publications
- → Research grants and fellowships
- → International collaboration networks
Education & Public Programmes
Lectures and discussion events allow research to be shared, bringing together students, scholars, museum professionals, and interested publics in meaningful engagement with historical art.
Public Lectures & Symposia
Our programmes have welcomed over 5,000 attendees through intimate seminars and major public lectures. We create spaces where cutting-edge research meets public curiosity, fostering informed dialogue about art history.
Educational Partnerships
We partner with leading institutions to develop educational initiatives that reach diverse audiences, from university students to lifelong learners. These programmes ensure that art historical knowledge remains vibrant and accessible.
Highlights
- → Public lectures and symposia
- → University partnerships
- → Digital learning resources
Collaboration & Preservation
Working closely with museums, universities, and archives, we support the responsible care, study, and documentation of historic artworks.
Institutional Partnerships
Our partnerships span continents, connecting institutions that share our commitment to preserving cultural heritage. We facilitate knowledge exchange and support best practices in conservation and curatorial work.
Conservation & Technical Studies
Current projects include conservation studies, cataloguing initiatives, and technical analysis programmes that combine traditional connoisseurship with scientific investigation.
Highlights
- → Museum collaborations
- → Conservation support
- → Technical analysis programmes
Archives & Historical Memory
Archival research is central to our work, particularly materials connected with Colnaghi's 260-year history, helping clarify collecting histories and market networks.
The Colnaghi Archive
The Colnaghi archive represents one of the longest continuous records in art market history. Our digitisation initiatives make these invaluable records accessible to researchers worldwide, shedding light on provenance, attribution, and the evolution of taste.
Access & Research
Making archival resources accessible advances understanding of how art has circulated, been valued, and shaped cultural memory. We support researchers in using these materials to reconstruct collecting histories and market dynamics.
Highlights
- → Archive digitisation
- → Provenance research
- → Market history studies
Support Us
Support our work through donations, collaborations, or by spreading awareness of our mission to advance the study of pre-twentieth-century art.