Malandrini Collection

Ferruccio Malandrini is one of Italy’s earliest collectors of historical photography. The Photothek aquired a major part of his collection in 2022. Since 2025, the holdings – about 6,000 single photographs, 6,200 images in 155 albums, and 1,500 photographs in thirty series – are being analyzed. They document Italian professional and amateur photography from the early years of analogue photography to the 1980s, covering art, architecture, travel, landscapes, and everyday life.

The project focuses on reviewing, cataloguing, and rehousing the material in conservation-grade storage. Each object receives a new signature and is recorded in a FileMaker database. Due to the diverse materials, the team works closely with conservator Giulia Fraticelli, while curatorial and provenance questions are discussed with Malandrini. The review should be completed by summer 2026.

The acquisition broadens the Photothek’s scope beyond documentation to include popular and artistic photography. This challenges existing classifications and will reshape cataloguing practices, prompting new narratives within the collection.