Giorgio Morandi: a must-see for art lovers in Bologna

Giorgio Morandi is the painter of Bologna.

But he didn't paint the butchers of Quadrilatero market, the colors of the porticoes, or the characters of the shops.
He prefers daily objects like bottles, funnels, and cactus you could find in all the houses.

From his house in Via Fondazza, the Morandi Museum in Bologna, and his beloved Grizzana, his traces are still here.

Giorgio Morandi: a life with the easel

Giorgio Morandi looked like everything but the artist with a hat and a tormented soul.

Heavy smoker, tall and with huge feet, he used to dress in elegant long coats and didn't like people who called him "master".

Giorgio Morandi, born on July 20, 1890, in Bologna, Italy, is celebrated for his contemplative still-life paintings and etchings that capture the essence of everyday objects.

His profound connection to Bologna not only influenced his artistic journey but also left an indelible mark on the city's cultural landscape.

Morandi education and still life

Morandi studied at the Accademia of Belli Arti, where years later he became an engraving professor.

During his academic years, he immersed himself in the works of masters like Giotto, Masaccio, Paolo Uccello, and Piero della Francesca, as well as modern artists such as Cézanne and Renoir.

Morandi's oeuvre is distinguished by his minimalist approach, focusing primarily on still lifes featuring bottles, vases, and boxes.

He employed a muted color palette, often utilizing earthy browns and grays, which imparted a serene and timeless quality to his work. His technique emphasized visible brushstrokes, adding texture and depth to his compositions.

Morandi's meticulous arrangement of objects and his exploration of light and shadow reflect his deep contemplation and dedication to his craft.

Why Did Giorgio Morandi Paint Still Life?

Morandi's choice of still life subjects allowed him to delve deeply into the exploration of form, color, and composition.

By focusing on simple, everyday objects, he could experiment with subtle variations in arrangement and lighting, revealing the intrinsic beauty of mundane items.

This focus also reflects his introspective nature and desire to find profundity

Interesting facts about Giorgio Morandi

• Morandi spent almost his entire life in Bologna, rarely leaving the city except for brief trips to nearby locations.
• He was a professor of etching at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Bologna for 26 years, influencing generations of artists.
• Despite his reclusive nature, Morandi's work gained international recognition, and he won the first prize for painting at the 1948 Venice Biennale.
• Morandi's studio in Via Fondazza has been preserved and can be visited, offering insights into his working environment.
• He created approximately 1,350 oil paintings and 133 etchings throughout his career.

Morandi's house in Bologna: Via Fondazza 36

Via Fondazza, 1945.
A street full of prostitutes, workshops, old men playing card games with an orphanage and a military barracks.

A lot has changed since that time, but at number 36, a massive wood door still hides the house where Morandi spent most of his life and also had his studio.

Great photographers like Luigi Ghirri and Gianni Berengo Gardin captured its atmosphere in the past.

Now the house is a museum but you can still imagine Morandi smoking near the window, looking at the olive tree in the courtyard.

Grizzana Morandi: 70 shades of green

Just over that bend there's the most beautiful landscape in the world

That's how Morandi describes Grizzana, the small village on the hills of Bologna where he spent part of his life.

Morandi had 3 sisters: Anna, Dina, and Maria Teresa.
In 1913 Anna got sick, and her doctor suggested spending some time far from Bologna, in a place with fresh air.

Veggetti family, Morandi's neighbors, invited them to spend that summer in their house in Grizzana. Anna felt better and Giorgio fell in love with this landscape.

Through the window, he could see (and paint) the woods and Campiaro's barn.

So in the 1950s, Morandi decided to build its own house in Grizzana. A simple and essential house, like his paintings.

Everything inside is left as it was in 1994, the year of the death of his youngest sister.
His coat is in the closet.
The cigarettes in the drawer, with his cut tip brushes.
The books of Giotto and Masaccio are on the shelves.
The grey FIAT 850 car is in the garage.

Morandi said that only in Grizzana he could see 70 shades of green.

And you can tell by entering his studio.
The only room in the house with 3 windows is an explosion of lights and colors.

His paintings are there, outside of the windows.

If you go to Grizzana Morandi, you can stop at Rocchetta Mattei and visit Alvar Aalto church in Riola for a full day in the beauty.

Morandi museum in Bologna

For art enthusiasts visiting Bologna, the Morandi Museum at MAMbo is a testament to the city's rich artistic heritage. The museum's serene ambiance reflects the tranquility of Morandi's works, offering a space for reflection and appreciation

This is one of the museums to visit in Bologna.

The museum hosts a collection of more than 200 paintings donated by Morandi's family. And some original objects from his studio like an unexpectedly colourful palette.

Giorgio Morandi's influence extends beyond his lifetime, impacting contemporary artists and movements.

His focus on form, color, and composition resonates with minimalist and modernist artists.

The Museo Morandi not only preserves his works but also serves as a center for ongoing research and exhibitions, ensuring that his legacy continues to inspire future generations.

Among Morandi's artworks, you won't find any paintings of the Asinelli tower.
Even if he used to say that:

I have to paint it sooner or later. It looks like leaning on a table

Casa Morandi

Via Fondazza 36, 40125 Bologna BO
Tel. +39 051 300150

mambo-bologna.org/museomorandi/

Free entrance

Casa Museo Giorgio Morandi

SP24, 115, 40030 Grizzana Morandi BO
Tel. +39 051 6730311

Bookings: [email protected]

Morandi Museum

MAMbo - Museo d’Arte Moderna di Bologna
Via Don Giovanni Minzoni, 14, 40121 Bologna BO
Tel. +39 051 6496611

mambo-bologna.org/museomorandi/

Entrance: 6€

Sources:

La città di Morandi, Renzo Renzi, Cappelli Editore 1989

Case della Memoria

Centro Studi Giorgio Morandi