National Gallery of Parma

The collection of the National Gallery of Parma has its origins in that of the  Ducal Fine Arts Academy set up in 1752 by the Duke Don Filippo Borbone (1749-1765) within the Palazzo. Filippo Borbone (Philip Bourbon) was the second son of Philip V King of Spain and Elisabetta Farnese and he arrived at the Ducal Throne thanks to the astute machinations of his mother.  Amongst many other things Philip had to accept the loss of the rich Farnese art collection which had been transferred to Naples in 1734 at the behest of Philip’s brother, Carlo di Borbone, King of Naples,(Charles Buorbon), eldest son of Elisabetta Farnese and, as such, legitimate heir to the family patrimony and heritage.