Located within the university area in the northern Italian city of Bologna, a short walk from the medieval walls and the San Donato gate, the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna (The National Gallery of Bologna) is a must-see for any museum lover and art history buff. With the Accademia di Belle Arti (School of Fine Arts) and a variety of University of Bologna museums as neighbors, the Pinacoteca is a central figure in the city’s historical university district. Next time you visit Bologna or its region of Emilia Romagna, make time in your itinerary to visit this exceptional art museum.
With a permanent collection ranging from the Gothic art movement of the 1200s through the Renaissance, to examples of masterpieces from the 1700s, the Pinacoteca invites the visitor to discover works and artists both from the Bologna school of painting to other influences. Moreover, the Pinacoteca has a second location at Palazzo Pepoli Campogrande, which houses even more frescoes and the history of Bologna. Even if “old” art isn’t necessarily your go to, the Pinacoteca’s presentation, layout and descriptions will quickly change your mind.
The Origins
The Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna and the Accademia di Belle Arti are both located within the premises of the former Jesuit novitiate and church of Sant’Ignazio. Built in the years between 1728 and 1735, the buildings were designed by the renowned Bolognese architect, Alfonso Torreggiani. In 1796, Bologna witnessed the arrival of Napoleon’s troops, leading to the suppression of religious orders. Subsequently, the Accademia Clementina underwent a transformation, adopting the new name of Accademia di Belle Arti. During this period, the academy started gathering numerous artworks and possessions from the suppressed institutions.
Founded in 1808 as an exhibition space and picture gallery for the Accademia di Belle Arti, the Pinacoteca started with the extraordinary collection of nearly a thousand paintings; this was the result of the suppressions of churches and convents carried out after the entry of Napoleon’s troops into Bologna, between 1797 and 1810. However, the Pinacoteca did not open to the public until 1885, and in 1997 the gallery underwent a comprehensive renovation, transforming it into one of the most modern and significant National Galleries in Italy. With its inaugural catalog dating back to 1827, the collection boasts a remarkable array of artworks from prominent Italian artists during the Renaissance, Mannerism, and Baroque periods. Among these esteemed artists are Giotto, Raphael, Perugino, Tintoretto, Titian, the Carraccis, Guercino, and Guido Reni.
The Collections
The Pinacoteca houses an impressive collection of artworks by Bolognese artists, spanning from the 14th century onwards. Notably, it features significant and numerous works and masterpieces from the late 16th century Carracci family: brothers Annibale and Agostino, along with their cousin Ludovico. These artists are regarded as the founding fathers of Italian Baroque art, deeply influenced by the Counter-Reformation that swept through Italy during the latter half of the 16th century. Their works predominantly revolve around religious themes, characterized by charged imagery.
The Pinacoteca has recently added another masterpiece by Ludovico Carracci to their ever growing collection: Sacra Famiglia con i Santi Giovannino, Orsola e Mattia (The Holy family with the saints John, Ursula and Matthias), acquired by the Ministry of Culture in 2022.
Arriving at the Pinacoteca, the painting underwent restoration at the workshop of Manuela Mattioli. Under the yellowed layers of varnish, Ludovico Carracci’s stylistic peculiarities have emerged in their integrity, from his use of vibrant colors, the detailing of the robes, the scenic almost theatrical framing of the figures, and the curtains which open in front of a cloudy, moody sky. As is typical of the Bolognese painter, there is warmth in the emotions that can be felt through the expressions of each figure, such as Mary, who has her arm around Saint Ursula’s shoulders; Consider also Saint John’s adoration of the child.
A few standout pieces to keep an eye out for include Ludovico’s Madonna Bargellini, Agostino’s Comunione di San Girolamo (Communion of St. Jerome), and Annibale’s Madonna di San Ludovico. Aside from the Carracci masterpieces, the gallery also boasts several works by Giotto, and among them, Raphael’s Estasi di Santa Cecilia (Ecstasy of St. Cecilia) can be admired. El Greco and Titian are also represented in the gallery, though these smaller works might be lesser-known compared to the Carraccis and other renowned artists featured.
A work that is impossible to miss, mainly due to its sheer size, towering at almost three meters tall, is Guido Reni’s Strage degli Innocenti (Massacre of the Innocents). Painted in 1611 for the aristocratic Berò family from Bologna, the masterpiece is based on the biblical episode of the Massacre of the Innocents, an order by king Herod to kill all male children, as narrated in the Gospel of Matthew. Through the Middle Ages and up to the modern age, this scene has been widely depicted in the figurative arts, with the desperation of the mothers as they try to flee, the lifeless bodies of the babies on the ground. Guido Reni contradicts the voluminous, colorful robes with the hopelessness and horror of the scene.
Visit the Pinacoteca during the summer of 2023 to see Ritratto di Alessandro Farnese (c. 1560), the portrait of Alessandro Farnese, painted by Sofonisba Anguissola (c.1532-1625). Admired by Michelangelo and Vasari, this work is currently on loan from the National Gallery of Ireland until the end of August 2023.
Upcoming Exhibits and Events
Beyond its impressive permanent collection, the Pinacoteca plays host to temporary exhibitions, as well as engaging in educational activities, seminars, and conventions.
Currently, the Pinacoteca is hosting a calendar of events during the summer months, including the multidisciplinary project Membrane Culturali. The project aims to re-imagine the spaces of the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna, by inhabiting the rooms with different artistic languages, through classical and contemporary music, dance, performances and workshop activities. Membrane Culturali is a six-month program of 18 appointments, organized in collaboration with the Orchestra Senzaspine.
Cover photo: Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna, Sala di Mezzaratta
Written August 2023
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