Fu founded in 1928 by Father Leonardo Montalti from Mercato Saraceno who, following visits to various convents in the Capuchin provinces of Bologna and Romagna, gathered the most precious and most at-risk material in order to preserve it and make it more accessible. It is housed in premises adjacent to the elegant Conti cloister (1722) annexed to the church of San Giuseppe.
About one hundred paintings and various sacred furnishings from churches and convents in various locations in Emilia and Romagna are kept there, including works by Pietro Lianori, Marco Zoppo, Innocenzo da Imola, Prospero Fontana, Calvaert, Cesi, Passerotti, Faccini, Scarsellino, Bononi, Cantarini, Franceschini, Crespi, Gandolfi, Calvi. Among the modern works (20th century), works by Majani and Brindisi. Among the sculptures, the plastic groups by Zaccaria Zacchi from Volterra (16th century), Mazza, Piò, Rossetti deserve mention.
