The Journals of Physics and Metaphysics are an in-depth magazine published by Allemandi, dedicated to themes related to the Cerruti Collection. The first three issues are edited by critic and essayist Andrea Cortellessa, who also conceived the title and its dual approach. Each issue of the Quaderni addresses a specific theme from two perspectives: “physics”, in the sense of scientific, philological and historical analysis of the works, and “metaphysics”, in the sense of philosophical and narrative reflection.

The title of the series pays homage to Giorgio de Chirico, one of Cerruti’s favourite artists, ten of whose paintings are preserved in the Collection.

The first two Journals are: Alchemies of Colour (November 2024), an analysis of pigments in manuscripts and incunabula from the Collection, with essays by art historians and chemists, an unpublished short story by Tiziano Scarpa and a contribution by artist Mark Leckey; Morals of the Collection (May 2025), which investigates the phenomenology of the contemporary collector with texts by Michele Mari, Giuseppe Garrera, Elio Grazioli, Marco Vallora and a contribution by artist Gala Porras-Kim.

The third issue, The Shape of Italy, to be released in November 2025, on the occasion of Artissima, addresses the topic from different perspectives, including essays by Raffaele Bedarida and Stefano Chiodi, an unpublished short story by Helena Janeczek and a contribution by artist Alessandra Ferrini.

The Journals are accompanied by a series of conferences aimed at presenting and exploring the themes covered in the volumes. 

The next conference will be on Thursday 16 October at the Federico Zeri Foundation Library in Bologna and will analyse the theme of the collection as a symbolic and anthropological form, taking its cue from the second issue of the Journals. Speakers will include critic and essayist Andrea Cortellessa, curator Roberto Pinto, collector Enea Righi, and writer Alessandra Sarchi.

Following this, on 1 November at the Teatro del Castello in Rivoli, there will be a conversation with Andrea Cortellessa and artists Alessandra Ferrini and Enrico David for the launch of the third Journal entitled The Shape of Italy.

On Wednesday 17 December, the Bagatti Valsecchi Museum will host a new conference dedicated to the Morals of the Collection with contributions from essayist Marco Belpoliti and artist Flavio Favelli in conversation with Andrea Cortellessa.