This museum was created  by the Società Economica of Chiavari and inaugurated on 18th April 1997. It was placed on the ground floor of this building (in Via Ravaschieri, 15) and in the adjacent garden, to contain the numerous works of art donated by Prof. Lorenzo Garaventa. He is one of the major Genoa sculptors, and is well known both in Italy and abroad.

This interesting museum was created at the artist’s request, being concerned that the great quantity of  his drawings, plaster figures, marble, wooden and bronze statues would be dispersed after his death. In order to preserve them and feel sure they would be well cared for, Garaventa chose to donate his unsold works to the Società Economica.

Prof. Garaventa was a student of  Antonio Quinzio and Eugenio Baroni; he then attended the Florence Academy and had as friends personalities as Giovanni Papini, Primo Conti, Ottone Rosai, Ardengo Soffici and Curzio Malaparte. On his return to Genoa he taught sculpture at the Artistic School Barabino in Genoa. His long artistic activity included personal exhibitions in Milan and in Turin; he took part in the 1948 and 1950 Biennale in Venice and the Quadriennale in Rome in 1948 and 1953.

The museum Garaventa is a precious testimonial of his varied works of art, containing over 50 sculptures. These depict the different forms of his artistic life, from the classical to the culture of the nineteenth century. Many of his sculptures have been placed in the small enclosed garden whose terraces dilate the space and produce an atmosphere in which each sculpture can be seen under different lights and dimensions. Bronzes form a contrast to the smooth purity of the marbles.

Lorenzo Garaventa has also donated about 2000 drawings to the Società Economica, which are kept in the Art Gallery.

  Images of sculptures

 Opening hours: Saturday 10am - 12 am and on other days by appointment.