Italy displays €15 m Etruscan frescoes at Villa Giulia

A major collection of ancient Etruscan frescoes, newly acquired by the Italian state, has gone on public display at the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia in Rome. The exhibition, "Tomba François," opened on July 1, 2026, and features 37 painted panels from the 4th century BC that were purchased for 15 million euros ($17 million) from the heirs of the aristocratic Torlonia, Sforza Cesarini, and Gaetani families.

The frescoes originate from the François Tomb, a burial chamber discovered in 1857 at the Etruscan city of Vulci, north of Rome. Painted between 340 and 320 BC, the works are considered the most complete surviving cycle of Etruscan wall painting. They weave together scenes from Greek mythology, including the sacrifice of Trojan prisoners by Achilles, with episodes from Etruscan history and legend, such as the liberation of the noble Caelius Vibenna. One panel depicts Etruscan heroes fighting enemies identified as Romans and warriors from rival cities.

Officials described the acquisition as the culmination of a century-long effort, with the state's first attempt to purchase the frescoes dating back to 1921. The complex negotiations, involving 21 heirs across three...