Founded by Giuliano Matteucci, the Matteucci Institute is the most qualified institution for the study, cataloguing and expert advice on 19th and 20th century Italian painting. Its roots are rooted in the heritage of values and knowledge gained over nearly four decades of history. Born from the desire to bring to light and census the work of the masters of that period and the lesser-known, but equally worthy of interest, personalities, the Matteucci Institute imposes itself as a model of a private institution at the service of those who, from the world of art collecting, demand clarity, rigor and professionalism. Internationally known and appreciated, it is characterized as an indispensable facility for anyone-museums, institutions, publishers, banking foundations, insurance companies, amateurs, connoisseurs, art galleries and auction houses-who needs to examine, appraise, evaluate, document or gather information on works and artists active in Italy from 1800 to 1930.

The direction of the institute, held until 2005 by Giuliano Matteucci, is currently held by Elisabetta Matteucci. The constant increase in the documentary resources the facility has at its disposal has required adequate space for the preservation and management of the vast archival material.
The building at 28 Via D’Annunzio in Viareggio where the Institute is located dates back to 1915 and was built by Serafino Ramacciotti. Located on the corner of Viale Buonarroti and Via D’Annunzio, it presents the typical features of Versilia’s Art Nouveau style. A highlight are the exterior friezes made of ceramic tiles, made by the workshop of Galileo Chini.

The structure fits validly on a major transit axis, already marked by cultural institutions such as the Pinacoteca, the Biblioteca Civica and Villa Argentina where some decorations by Biasi da Teulada are preserved. Because of its strategic location and the philological restoration to which it has been subjected, the Institute’s headquarters constitutes a significant body in its own right in the city’s cultural circuit.
The Institute with events, exhibitions, conferences, lectures and seminars, participates in the critical debate on the development of art, its market and its future. This commitment takes the form of planning and participating in qualified cultural events.