Biblioteca Nazionale, Napoli

Signed, titled, dated and from edition of 5 on artist’s label on verso.

Available in 3 sizes: 100 x 120 cm. (39.4 x 47.2 in.), 120 x 150 cm. (47.2 x 59.1 in.), 180 x 225 cm. (70.9 x 88.6 in.)

In Massimo Listri’s evocative photograph of the Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III in Naples, the viewer is drawn through a series of doorways that create a sense of infinite depth and historical continuity. This visual journey reflects the layered history and vast collection housed within the library’s walls.

The Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III, situated in the eastern wing of the grand 18th-century Palazzo Reale, stands as one of Italy’s largest libraries. It holds a remarkable collection of 1,480,747 printed volumes, 319,187 pamphlets, 18,415 manuscripts, over 8,000 periodicals, 4,500 incunabula, and the 1,800 Herculaneum papyri. The library’s origins trace back to the late 18th century when it was established in the Palazzo degli Studi, with its core formed from the Farnese Collection brought to Naples by Carlo di Borbone in 1734.

Initially opened to the public in 1804 as the Reale Biblioteca di Napoli under the direction of the distinguished humanist Juan Andrés, the library became a beacon of European cultural heritage. It was renamed Reale Biblioteca Borbonica in 1816, expanding its collection through acquisitions from abolished religious houses and confiscated private collections. Following the unification of Italy in 1860, it adopted its current name, Biblioteca Nazionale.

Significant developments occurred in 1910 with the incorporation of the Officina dei Papiri Ercolanensi, a workshop dedicated to preserving the papyri from Herculaneum. In 1922, the library was relocated to the Palazzo Reale, a move facilitated by King Victor Emmanuel III and advocated by the intellectual Benedetto Croce. This relocation brought together other important collections, such as the Biblioteca Brancacciana, thereby enriching its holdings.

Despite suffering damage during World War II, including fires set by the German occupiers, the library preserved its most valuable manuscripts by relocating them to safer areas. It reopened in 1945, continuing to serve as a crucial repository of knowledge. However, an earthquake in 1980 caused significant damage, necessitating the transfer of some collections within the building.

Through Listri’s lens, the Biblioteca Nazionale emerges not just as a physical space, but as a symbol of resilience and continuity, housing centuries of accumulated knowledge and cultural treasures. The photograph’s composition, with its succession of doorways, underscores the depth and richness of this venerable institution, inviting viewers to ponder the infinite journeys of discovery that lie within.