Historic Horne portrait restored and presented in Florence

A restored portrait of Herbert Percy Horne, the British collector and scholar who founded the Museo Horne in Florence, will be presented to the public on Wednesday, 16 April at 4:30 p.m. at the museum’s headquarters in Via de’ Benci.

The painting, created in 1908 by English artist Henry Harris Brown, has undergone a conservation project supported by the non-profit organisation Friends of Florence, through a donation from Catharin Dalpino. 

A key image of a little-documented figure

The portrait is considered a particularly important document because very few images of Herbert Percy Horne exist. Despite his meticulous work as an art historian and collector, Horne left limited traces of his private life, and visual representations of him are rare. 

Painted when he was 44, the portrait shows Horne at a time when his life and work were already closely tied to Florence. For decades, his appearance was mainly known through just two photographs, making this painting a crucial reference for understanding his figure and legacy. 

The work also reflects Horne’s cultural world. He is depicted holding a small sculpture by Giambologna, while in the background appears a detail of a painting by Benozzo Gozzoli—both works from his own collection, now housed in the museum he created. 

From London to Florence: the painting’s history

Although the Museo Horne opened in 1921 following Horne’s death in 1916, the portrait was not initially part of its collection.

The painting remained in London until 1933, when Henry Harris Brown decided to donate it to the museum. It was then shipped to Florence and entered the collection later that year, reinforcing its role as a central piece in the narrative of the museum’s origins. 

Brown, a British portrait painter trained in Paris and active in London’s artistic circles, was known for depicting members of high society and has been compared to leading international portraitists of the early 20th century. 

The restoration: recovering colour and detail

Before the restoration, the painting was in generally stable condition but affected by surface dust and layers of aged varnish that had darkened over time, reducing the clarity of the image. 

The conservation work, carried out by restorer Daniele Rossi with a team of collaborators, focused on carefully thinning the yellowed varnish, cleaning the surface, and stabilising the original materials.

The painting, executed in oil on a finely woven linen canvas, retains its original structure and frame. The restoration preserved these elements while improving the legibility of details such as the background, the facial features, and the textures of clothing and objects. 

The intervention also included work on the gilded frame, where accumulated dust and minor damage were treated to restore its decorative elements. 

Overall, the restoration has brought back depth to the composition and brightness to the colours, allowing a clearer reading of both the artistic quality and the symbolic elements of the portrait. 

A portrait at the centre of the museum’s identity

Today, the restored painting is not only a depiction of Horne but also a synthesis of his intellectual and collecting activity.

As the founder of the house museum in Via de’ Benci, Horne played a key role in shaping one of Florence’s most distinctive small museums, designed to reflect the atmosphere of a Renaissance residence through its collection of paintings, sculptures, furniture and decorative arts.

The return of the portrait to public view highlights both the historical figure behind the museum and the broader role of international patrons in preserving Florence’s cultural heritage.

Practical information

• What: Presentation of the restored portrait of Herbert Percy Horne
• Where: Museo Horne, Via de’ Benci, Florence
• When: Wednesday, 16 April, 4:30 p.m.
• Access: Public event

The presentation will include contributions from representatives of the museum, the supporting foundation and the restoration team.

❤️ Support Florence Daily News

If you liked this article, please consider supporting Florence Daily News.

We are an independent news site, free from paywalls and intrusive ads, committed to providing clear and reliable reporting on Florence and Tuscany for everyone.

Your support — whether a one-time gift or a regular contribution — helps us stay independent and keep telling the stories that matter.

Donate securely via Stripe below.