Visit to the Museum 0f 20th Century Italian Art on a cold, sunny February morning

Santa Maria Novella

  

The Museum of 20th Century Italian Art in Florence is a jewel that has recently been added to the vast number of art museums in this city and is just across the piazza from the famous church of Santa Maria Novella in the heart of the city (near the train station) The white marble facade was literally glittering under the brilliant light of this morning's sun.

This museum is set in what was once the 13th century Hospital of St. Paul  recently restored to house this collection of approximately 300 works of  art including paintings, sculpture, video, installations and documents. The museum presents an itinerary that passes from the '90's to the 20th century, reconstructing the cultural period when Florence was at the center of the national and international cultural scene.

I realize that, with very few exceptions, contemporary Italian art and artists are not well known outside of europe  but I wanted to share  my visit to this new museum with you. The collection ranges from the avantguard of the early  1900's to the artistic expressions of the past few decades  including  futurism and  informal art. You will see  well known Italian artists such as Sironi, De Chirico, Giorgio Morandi, de Pisis, Lucio Fontana, just to name a few worth noting. But you will also be introduced to lesser known artists, as I was, who will invite you to appreciate their art work as well.

Following are photos that I was able to take in the museum  because now, in Italy, without a flash, photos in art museums are allowed:

Alberto Viani - "IL Pastore dell'Essere"  - 1963

The Cloister of the ancient Church of St. Paolo

Cloister and 1st Floor Colonade

Installation by Maurizio Nannucci  -  1988

The actual show begins on the second floor. 

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"Superarchitecture"  1966-1967

Remo Salvadori "Spazio per un Racconto N.2"  1967

Mario Oddone Cavaglieri  "I Fidanzati"    1919

I discovered Alberto Magnelli. Born in Florence, self taught, he later moved to France where he lived and worked. There is a small video in his section, black and white, in French with English subtitles, where, fascinated, I spent at least twenty minutes watching and listening. What struck me were his words about a painting. - Whether it be figurative or abstract, a painting must be looked at thousands of times to be appreciated. Each time something new will be seen if the artist has been sincere and has tried to express a concept.-

Alberto Magnelli   "Contadini col carro"  1914

Sound shower
In the next 2 photos you can see at the upper left hand corner a long transparent tube attached to the ceiling. Curious,  I asked what they were and  was told  "a sound shower". A perfect term. These "showers" are used  to concentrate sounds and  direct them, whether they be in the form of words, music or any other "noise",  to one selected and specific area without disturbing the rest of a room or gallery. This first "shower" transmitted a symphony written in honor of the artist, Antonio Donghi, whose paintings were on the wall directly below. The next produced  an interview with the specific artist whose work is hung on the wall. I had never seen this type of technology used before in a museum and found it very effective.

 sound shower - Donghi "Fiori (Dalie)"  1923

sound shower

My hope is that if and when you are a visitor in Florence you will take time to visit this museum.              

For more info and photos go to;

 http://www.museonovecento.it