«Quanto ornamento e splendore». Gli Stati italiani e la tutela del patrimonio storico e artistico in età moderna

In the modern age, the idea of property tends to become simpler and more defined than in the past. Likewise, the notion of public assets begins to become more definite. As a consequence, a new perception emerges also in relation with goods of artistic value and their protection. A conflict arises between public needs and the prerogatives of the owner. This paper focuses on the legislative provisions adopted by the Italian States between the Sixteenth and Eighteenth centuries and wonders about the purposes and reasons which move political authorities.