From Du Sommerard to Poldi Pezzoli: The Musée de Cluny, a model for a Milanese collector?

The article focuses on the origins and development of the Musée de Cluny in Paris, founded on the medieval decorative arts collection of Alexandre Du Sommerard during the Bourbon Restoration (1814–1830). Du Sommerard’s innovative display methods, including period rooms and evocative historical associations, influenced the creation of similar museums across Europe, notably Milan’s Museo Poldi Pezzoli, whose founder Gian Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli drew inspiration from Cluny’s model. After Du Sommerard’s death, the French state acquired the Hôtel de Cluny and his collection, opening the museum to the public in 1844, where it became a reference for decorative arts museums. Both the Musée de Cluny and Museo Poldi Pezzoli have undergone significant transformations due to historical events and evolving museological approaches, resulting in changes to their original identities and collections.