Pinacoteca

A pinacoteca is a painting gallery, typically a public or semi-public institution dedicated primarily to the display and study of paintings. The term is used especially in Italian, but is also found in other languages to designate a museum or collection focused on pictorial works. The word derives from the Italian pinacoteca, itself from the Greek pinakothekē, meaning a place for hanging pictures.

Historically, pinacotecas developed as specialized spaces within churches, palaces, or civic buildings, evolving into dedicated repositories for paintings. In many Italian cities, they became important public institutions during the 17th to 19th centuries, organized to preserve, study, and display works by regional schools and international masters. A pinacoteca may function as an independent museum, or as a department within a larger museum, typically emphasizing conservation, scholarly cataloging, and educational programs. While their core focus is painting, many pinacotecas also house drawings, prints, and related archival materials.

Notable examples include the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan, known for its Renaissance and Baroque collections; the Pinacoteca Vaticana in the Vatican Museums, which presents a broad historical survey of Western painting; and regional institutions such as the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna. In the Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking world, the term is also used for major painting galleries, including contemporary or historic collections such as the Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo in Brazil. Pinacotecas continue to play a key role in curation, restoration, and public access to painting heritage.