Aula Gnudi: A Treasure Trove of Bolognese Art

The Aula Gnudi is a highlight within the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna, Italy's main gallery of Emilian painting. The Pinacoteca itself was established in 1808, originating as the art collection of the Academy of Fine Arts. It became an independent museum in 1882. The core collection was significantly enriched by approximately a thousand paintings acquired following the suppression of churches and convents during the Napoleonic era, between 1797 and 1810, and again in 1866 by the new Italian state. The Aula Gnudi is named in honor of Cesare Gnudi (1910-1981), a prominent art historian and director of the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna. Gnudi played a crucial role in renovating the Pinacoteca's premises within the former Jesuit college of Sant'Ignazio. The gallery provides visitors with a captivating exploration of Emilian painting from the 13th to the 18th centuries. The collection features works from the 1300s by artists such as Vitale, Pseudo Jacopino, Simone dei Crocefissi, and Jacopo di Paolo. It also boasts one of Italy's most extensive collections of detached 14th-century frescoes, including those from the Church of Mezzaratta. The Renaissance section displays paintings by Vivarini, Cossa, Costa, Perugino, and Raphael, leading up to masterpieces by Parmigianino and Titian. The 17th-century section showcases rooms dedicated to the Carracci brothers, Guido Reni, Guercino, Domenichino, and Tiarini. The journey concludes with works from the 18th-century Emilian period, featuring Crespi, Creti, and Gandolfi.