In 1471, Pope Sixtus IV placed a collection of ancient bronzes on the Capitoline Hill for the people of Rome. These works included the Capitoline Wolf and the Boy with Thorn, which had been kept in the Lateran Palace until that moment. The inscription preserved in the Palazzo dei Conservatori states this was not a donation but a restitution to the Roman people. This act established the museum's foundation by returning artifacts to their place of origin. The gilded Hercules found in the Forum Boarium quickly joined the original group of bronzes. It was placed on a high plinth in front of the palace as a monument to the glory of Rome before being moved inside.
Michelangelo Urban Redesign
Paul III commissioned Michelangelo Buonarroti to completely remodel the square in the 16th century. The project included the renovation of the facades of the Palazzo Senatorio and the construction of the Palazzo Nuovo. Michelangelo designed the new facade for the Palazzo dei Conservatori, replacing the medieval portico with two orders of columns. He died during the works in 1564, leaving his design incomplete. Guido Guidetti continued the work, and Giacomo Della Porta completed it in 1568 following Michelangelo's designs almost faithfully. The square took on its current appearance through these renovations, creating a monumental space that houses the museum today.Public Access And Enlightenment Era
Pope Clement XII opened the museum to the public in 1734, making it one of the earliest museums accessible to all citizens. In 1733, under Pope Clement XII, the museum purchased the collection of Cardinal Alessandro Albani. This acquisition included important pieces such as the Satyrs of the Valley and the Juno Cesi. A statue of Antinous found in Hadrian's villa also entered the collection. The end of the eighteenth century was not favorable to the museum due to competition from the Vatican Museums. Despite this, the collections resumed their growth through various donations and purchases by subsequent popes.