The year 2021 will mark the bicentenary of the birth of the portraitist and religious painter Antonio Ciseri (1821–91). He was active mainly in Florence, where he produced key works such as Il martirio dei fratelli Maccabei (Church of Santa Felicita) and Ecce Homo (Gallery of Modern Art, Palazzo Pitti). Canton Ticino is also home to some of his greatest masterpieces, including Trasporto di Cristo al Sepolcro (Sacro Monte Madonna del Sasso, Locarno).

An exhibition based on the works of the MASI collection will be staged on the ground floor of Palazzo Reali. They will be accompanied by a series of drawings and preparatory studies for the principal oil paintings including extremely fragile works that are rarely displayed.

The bicentenary is celebrated through numerous initiatives and events in all Canton Ticino which are available at www.antoniociseri.ch