The Giorgio Franchetti Collection

The Giorgio Franchetti Collection, installation view
Luigi Ontani, Giorgio Franchetti Barone. Le tre età, 1982, Maschera intagliata in legno pule dipinto, 29.5 x 21.5 x 12 cm; 11 5/8 × 8 1/2 × 4 3/4 in
Luigi Ontani, Giorgio Franchetti Barone. Le tre età, 1982, Maschera intagliata in legno pule dipinto, 29.5 x 21.5 x 12 cm; 11 5/8 × 8 1/2 × 4 3/4 in
Cy Twombly, White Rabbit, 1966, Graphite on paper, 60 x 40 cm; 23 5/8 × 15 3/4 in
Cy Twombly, White Rabbit, 1966, Graphite on paper, 60 x 40 cm; 23 5/8 × 15 3/4 in
The Giorgio Franchetti Collection, installation view
Tano Festa, Albinoni, 1962, Enamel and metallic pigment on wood, 120 x 145 x 6 cm; 47 1/4 × 57 1/8 × 2 3/8 in
Tano Festa, Albinoni, 1962, Enamel and metallic pigment on wood, 120 x 145 x 6 cm; 47 1/4 × 57 1/8 × 2 3/8 in
The Giorgio Franchetti Collection, installation view
Piero Manzoni, Achrome. Batuffoli di cotone, 1961, Wads of cotton wool, 31 x 38 cm; 12 1/4 × 15 in
Piero Manzoni, Achrome. Batuffoli di cotone, 1961, Wads of cotton wool, 31 x 38 cm; 12 1/4 × 15 in
The Giorgio Franchetti Collection, installation view
Tano Festa, La Porta Rossa, 1962, Acrylic on wood, 200 x 100 x 4 cm; 78 3/4 × 39 3/8 × 1 5/8 in
Tano Festa, La Porta Rossa, 1962, Acrylic on wood, 200 x 100 x 4 cm; 78 3/4 × 39 3/8 × 1 5/8 in
Francesco Lo Savio, Metallo Nero Opaco Uniforme, 1960, Painted metal, 50 x 101 x 12 cm; 19 3/4 × 39 3/4 × 4 3/4 in
Francesco Lo Savio, Metallo Nero Opaco Uniforme, 1960, Painted metal, 50 x 101 x 12 cm; 19 3/4 × 39 3/4 × 4 3/4 in
The Giorgio Franchetti Collection, installation view
Mario Schifano, Roma, 1961, enamel on paper mounted on canvas, 186 x 165 x 7 cm, 73 1/4 × 65 × 2 3/4 in
Mario Schifano, Roma, 1961, enamel on paper mounted on canvas, 186 x 165 x 7 cm, 73 1/4 × 65 × 2 3/4 in
The Giorgio Franchetti Collection, installation view
Alighiero Boetti, Mettere a Mondo il Mondo a Kabul Afghanistan, 1983, Embroidery on fabric, 174.5 x 117 x 6 cm; 68 3/4 × 46 × 2 3/8 in
Alighiero Boetti, Mettere a Mondo il Mondo a Kabul Afghanistan, 1983, Embroidery on fabric, 174.5 x 117 x 6 cm; 68 3/4 × 46 × 2 3/8 in
The Giorgio Franchetti Collection, installation view
Tano Festa, Specchio, 1963, Silver lacquer on wooden panel, 113x 145 x 4 cm; 44 1/2 × 57 1/8 × 1 5/8 in
Tano Festa, Specchio, 1963, Silver lacquer on wooden panel, 113x 145 x 4 cm; 44 1/2 × 57 1/8 × 1 5/8 in
The Giorgio Franchetti Collection, installation view
Joseph Kosuth, One and three hammer, 1965, object, photograph, and dictionary definition of ‘object’, 141 x 65 x 9.5 cm; 55 1/2 × 25 5/8 × 3 3/4 in
Joseph Kosuth, One and three hammer, 1965, object, photograph, and dictionary definition of ‘object’, 141 x 65 x 9.5 cm; 55 1/2 × 25 5/8 × 3 3/4 in
The Giorgio Franchetti Collection, installation view
Cy Twombly, Giorgio Franchetti, 1961, Graphite, colored pencil and paint on canvas, 150 x 124.5 x 2 cm; 59 × 49 × 3/4 in
Cy Twombly, Giorgio Franchetti, 1961, Graphite, colored pencil and paint on canvas, 150 x 124.5 x 2 cm; 59 × 49 × 3/4 in
The Giorgio Franchetti Collection, installation view
Tatia Franchetti, Giorgio Franchetti, 1966, Oil on wood, 54 x 43 cm; 21 1/4 × 16 7/8 in
Tatia Franchetti, Giorgio Franchetti, 1966, Oil on wood, 54 x 43 cm; 21 1/4 × 16 7/8 in
The Giorgio Franchetti Collection, installation view
Sandro Chia, A Giorgio, Sandro, 1982, Oil on canvas, 175 x 156 cm; 68 7/8 × 61 3/8 in
Sandro Chia, A Giorgio, Sandro, 1982, Oil on canvas, 175 x 156 cm; 68 7/8 × 61 3/8 in
The Giorgio Franchetti Collection, installation view
Pino Pascali, Trofeo di Caccia, 1966, white canvas stretched on a wooden frame, 176 (base diameter) x 180 cm; 69 1/4 in (base diameter) × 70 7/8 in
Pino Pascali, Trofeo di Caccia, 1966, white canvas stretched on a wooden frame, 176 (base diameter) x 180 cm; 69 1/4 in (base diameter) × 70 7/8 in
Mario Ceroli, Mister Muscolo, 1964, Pine board sculpture, 191 x 128 x 20 cm; 75 1/8 × 50 3/8 × 7 7/8 in
Mario Ceroli, Mister Muscolo, 1964, Pine board sculpture, 191 x 128 x 20 cm; 75 1/8 × 50 3/8 × 7 7/8 in

Fondazione Iris
Via Belvedere, 19, 01030 Bassano in Teverina VT
Book here
June 7 – July 26, 2026
Open by appointment:

Inquire

In 1975, under the guidance of Giorgio Franchetti, Cy Twombly acquired a 17th-century property in Bassano in Teverina. Over the following three years, they restored the building, transforming it into a home and studio where Cy would spend his summers producing some of the most significant works of his career.

Giorgio devoted himself to various endeavors, always faithfully guided by his own impulses — not least of these was his appetite for art. He began collecting in 1938, acquiring a small painting by de Chirico. At the time, his interests were largely shaped by his grandfather's collection of Old Masters; his own sensibility had yet to fully form. After the war, his encounter with Plinio de Martis proved decisive, deepening his involvement in the contemporary arts. Giorgio described Plinio as "the greatest pilot" he had ever met; through him, he collected, met, and befriended many of the artists of his time.

Fifty years after the building's original acquisition, Fondazione Iris is honored to present a selection from Giorgio Franchetti's collection, featuring works by many of the artists who accompanied him throughout his life. It is a privilege to exhibit a portion of Giorgio's collection in a building that shares his legacy.

The exhibition comprises a selection of works by Tano Festa, Joseph Kosuth, Francesco Lo Savio, Sandro Chia, Franco Angeli, Pino Pascali, Mario Schifano, Piero Manzoni, Luigi Ontani, Alighiero Boetti, Tatia Franchetti, and Cy Twombly. Our thanks to Gaia, Marion, Carlo, and Pietro Arco Franchetti for their contributions to the exhibition, and to Flaminia Allvin, Deborah McCauley, and Fabrizio Andreoli for their work on the archive.