Fu founded in 1928 by Father Leonardo Montalti from Mercato Saraceno, who, following visits to various convents of the Capuchin provinces of Bologna and Romagna, collected the most precious and at-risk material 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.
It preserves about one hundred paintings and various sacred furnishings from churches and convents of various places in Emilia and Romagna, including works by Pietro Lianori, Marco Zoppo, Innocenzo da Imola, Prospero Fontana, Calvaert, Cesi, Passerotti, Faccini, Scarsellino, Bononi, Cantarini, Franceschini, Crespi, Gandolfi, Calvi. Among modern works (20th century), pieces by Majani and Brindisi. Among the sculptures, notable are the plastic groups by Zaccaria Zacchi from Volterra (16th century), Mazza, Piò, Rossetti.
