Serving One of Europe’s Greatest Museums

The American Friends of Capodimonte (AFC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to build awareness in the English-speaking world of one of Europe’s greatest museums. We are a group of scholars and art lovers dedicated to sharing Capodimonte’s magnificent collection as well as raising funds for special projects at the Museum and its Royal Park. Thanks to our Capodimonte Fellowships, we are the first and only American organization to place talented, young American art historians directly inside an Italian museum. For more information on the AFC Fellowship, click here.

Benefits

Contributors to the AFC will receive exclusive access to the Capodimonte Museum—an unprecedented rarity in Italy. Our members and donors enjoy private tours, events, and dinners in the Museum and Royal Park. When works from the collection travel to America, we invite all who contribute to join us for events and exhibitions. Every summer the doors of Southern Italy’s greatest monuments and private palaces are opened exclusively for us during our annual journey to Naples. 

View the Latest Instagram Posts from our AFC Fellow

#maiolica Luxury maiolica pieces were often decorated with mythological scenes and figures. These plates were produced in Urbino, which became a center for maiolica in the 16th century. These pieces are part of the De Ciccio collection, which is on
#earthday French painter Claude Lorrain (1600-1682) specialized in landscapes. Although originally from a village in the French region of Lorraine (from which he took his last name), he spent most of his career in Italy, including two years in Naples
#comicbooks Today the Capodimonte museum presented a comic book recounting the story of the Battle of Pavia. Fought almost 500 years ago between the troops of the French King François I and Hapsburg Emperor Charles V, this 1525 battle was a pi
#giardinotorre The Giardino Torre (Tower Garden) in the Capodimonte park is in full bloom! In the garden both decorative flowers as well as fruit bearing trees and vegetables are grown. In the tower, which now houses a restaurant, you can visit the

Our Impact

Fellowships and Research

The AFC’s Fellowship is the only program to offer young American art historians the transformative, multi-year experience of working hands-on in an Italian museum. Our Fellows engage in essential English-language outreach and produce publications that open Capodimonte to a global audience.
Interested AFC Fellowship applicants can find application details on our Fellowships page.

Technology

Thanks to the AFC’s efforts, the Capodimonte Museum is Google Arts & Culture’s largest partner in Italy and the seat of an Apple Foundations Program.

International Exchange

The AFC has made the Capodimonte Museum a global meeting point by facilitating and encouraging dialogue with professors, journalists, diplomats, and American servicemen and women.

We would love to hear from you! Please reach out to us through our contact form and click here for more information about donating and becoming a member of our organization. 

Upcoming U.S. travelling exhibition

Art and War in the Renaissance:
The Battle of Pavia Tapestries

The AFC is planning its annual trip to coincide with the opening of ‘Art and War in the Renaissance: The Battle of Pavia Tapestries’ in San Francisco at the de Young Museum (October 17-20, 2024, to be confirmed). Watch the trailer at the left for a teaser on what to expect. Director Emeritus and AFC Co-Founder, Sylvain Bellenger, is the co-curator of this exhibition and AFC Program Director, James Anno, is the Museum of Fine Arts Houston curator for the special exhibition. This trip will also offer the opportunity to meet the Capodimonte's new director. For more information, check out our events calendar.

Watch AFC Fellow Caroline Paganussi (2021-23) Give an Introduction to the Capodimonte Museum and Royal Park