The history of the figurative arts in Naples is illustrated on the second floor of the museum with paintings by artists from Southern Italy and by such masters as Simone Martini and Titian, who had their own creations brought to the city.
The majority of these pictures come from important churches and monasteries. These rooms highlight Naples's strategic role as a leading European capital and an important interface for cultural exchanges among the figurative traditions throughout the Mediterranean.
Religious subjects alternate with profane scenes, testifying to the exquisite taste of the aristocracy; the rooms featuring the d'Avalos collection are particularly significant in this respect.
This gallery is completed by the magnificent series of Flemish tapestries produced in the 16th century illustrating scenes from the Battle of Pavia
