Museums, Bologna

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“The art of Bologna in its earlier phases shows the mediaeval school represented by numerous Byzantine-Romanesque panels and manuscript illuminations (Bologna Museum and elsewhere).”
— from “A Short History of Italian Painting” 1914 by Alice Van Vechten Brown, William Rankin

The Pinacoteca di Bologna, the National Gallery of Bologna, is located in the university area, in the same building which houses the Academy of Fine Arts and the Superintendent for the Historic, Artistic and Ethno-Anthropological Heritage of Bologna. This arrangement blends exhibition space, protection, conservation and study of the art in Bologna and Emilia-Romagna styles.

The National Gallery is housed in the former Jesuit monastery of St. Ignatius. “The Apotheosis of St Ignatius” (see photos #2 and #3) can be seen in the stairwell’s ceiling fresco. The core of its collections is the result primarily of the destruction of churches and convents by the occupying Napoleonic administration.

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Founded in 1936, Il Palazzo Comunale di Bologna le Collezioni Comunali d’arte (Bologna’s Municipal Art Collection) is located in what was once the winter apartments of the Cardinal Papal Legates on the first floor of Palazzo Comunale. The rooms are decorated with friezes and ceiling paintings from the sixteenth to the early nineteenth century. This is a major collection of paintings, furniture, furnishings, house hold goods, from major donations made to the City of Bologna primarily during the nineteenth and early twentieth century.

Take note of “Genius” (see photo #5) by Giacomo de Maria (1762-1838), a Bolognese Neoclassical sculptor. This 1797 work stands in an elaborate presentation piece at the far end of the Galleria Vidoniana, Room #4, in the Collezioni Comunali d'Arte.

Opening hours, Tuesday to Friday: 9.00 am to 6.30 pm; Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays: 10.00 am to 6.30 pm

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“Bolognese, it is a rough and chopped, horrible dialect.”
— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)

Founded in 1936, Bologna’s Municipal Art Collection is located in what was once the winter apartments of the Cardinal Papal Legates, with friezes and ceiling paintings from the sixteenth to the early nineteenth century. This is a major collection of paintings, furniture, furnishings, house hold goods, from major donations made to the City of Bologna primarily during the nineteenth and early twentieth century.

In Room #5, take note of the large group of crucifixes (see photo #4) carved and painted in the Middle Ages, the majority of which, prior to 1936, was included in the Medieval section of the Civic Museum at Palazzo Galvani, opened in 1882. Some of these crucifixes were carved/painted by known masters, but whose names are not known such as the Master of the Franciscan Crucifixes, the Master of Arquà. While others were created by named artists, including Vitale da Bologna, Jacopo di Paolo, Barnaba da Modena, Alvar Pirez.

Whenever a museum occupies a former castle or palace, I always advise visitors to look up; some of the best art is on the ceilings (see photos #1, #2, #3 & #5). The rooms of the palaces were richly decorated for their important owners. LOOK UP!

Collezioni Comunali d'Arte

On the second floor of the Palazzo Communale, it features paintings, sculpture and furniture, all predominantly dating from the 13th to the 19th centuries

Museo Morandi

Dedicated to (predictably) Giorgio Morandi, who was a local, it features over 200 of his classic works

Practicalities

Entrance to both museums is free

A tower like no other in Bologna, la Torre della Specola was not built as a defensive structure, a church campanile, or as a sign of family wealth. In fact, it was one of the last towers to be constructed, in 1721, as an astronomical observatory for the Institute of Sciences (Istituto di Scienze). Nevertheless, the tower's design was true to Bologna's Mediaeval traditional architecture, and complemented the 16th century Palazzo Poggi, where it was located. In 1803, Palazzo Poggi and Torre della Specola were taken over by the University of Bologna. Nowadays, they house il Museo della Specola, a museum dedicated to astronomy.

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Designed by Bartolomeo Provaglia for Camillo Bargellini, Palazzo Davia-Bargellini was completed in 1658. One of the prized features of the palazzo are the two colossal sculptures of Telamon flanking the entrance. The Greek mythological figures were sculpted by Gabriele Brunelli and his student, Francesco Agnesini. Another distinguishing feature is that the palazzo does not have an arcaded portico, which was typical of palaces built for "senatorial" families in Bologna, among them the Bargellini. In the early 19th century, the Davia family purchased the palace, so it now also carries their name. Nowadays, the edifice houses a gallery and an art museum, il Museo Civico d'Arte Industriale.

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The 16th century Palazzo Sanguinetti, along with its neighbouring Casa Masetti, was built around the mediaeval Oseletti tower. In the 18th century, Palazzo Sanguinetti was renovated and its interior was covered with amazing frescoes painted by some well-known bolognese artists of the time. The palazzo now houses a museum and a library dedicated to music and its instruments, Museo Internazionale e Biblioteca della Musica di Bologna. Entry into the museum is free of charge, so visiting is worthwhile at least to see the impressive interior of the palace, even if historical musical instruments are not of great interest.

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Housed in the 15th century Palazzo Ghisiraldi, il Museo Civico Medievale displays a rich collection of mediaeval and Renaissance art and artefacts from Bologna. The palace itself is a beauty and is worth visiting. It was designed in 1483 by Zilio di Battista Montanari for the Ghisiraldi family. As was typical for that era, it has a gorgeous red brick and terracotta façade, with Romanesque windows, and a spacious courtyard with a double loggia. The palace was later acquired by the Fava family, so it is sometimes referred to by the two names, i.e. Palazzo Ghisiraldi-Fava.