18th-century Villa Grimaldi Fassio was restored in the 1960s by architect Luigi Carlo Daneri and bought by the City of Genoa in 1979. Since 1993, the museum houses two very special collections of paintings, sculptures and drawings by Italian and foreign artists who worked during the second half of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century. Originally owned by the Frugone brothers, these two collections were donated to the City of Genoa in 1935 and 1953, respectively.
Museum visitors will have the chance to see some important works by M. Bianchi, G. Boldini, G. Ciardi, T. Cremona, L. Delleani, G. De Nittis, G. Fattori, G. Favretto, A. Fontanesi, V. Gemito, S. Lega, A. Mancini, F.P. Michetti, R. Miller, G. Segantini, T. Signorini. J. Sorolla y Bartida, and E. Tito.