MUSEUM
Museo Schifanoia
Must-see because....
Upon entering the Hall of the Months you will be fascinated by the pictorial cycle created by the greatest painters of the Ferrara Workshop
You will discover the wonderful artistic techniques, sculptures and fine artifacts
Troverete un museo bellissimo e molto coinvolgente che sicuramente non vi annoierà.
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Museo Schifanoia
Palazzo Schifanoia is one of the symbols of Ferrara's splendour, city of Renaissance, UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The current exhibition route was inaugurated in three stages after the impressive restoration work carried out following the 2012 earthquake. In June 2020, the Salone dei Mesi reopened with a new lighting system. Subsequently, the Borsiana and Albertiana wings were reopened to the public in May and October 2021 respectively. The new arrangement provides visitors with a modern and engaging museum that - as the building's name suggests - avoids any form of boredom.
Museo Schifanoia - The History
'Avoiding boredom'(in ancient italian 'schivar la noia'): this was the purpose of the suburban palace conceived by Alberto d'Este in the 14th century. The palace is also closely linked to the figure of Duke Borso d'Este, lord of the city between 1450 and 1471, who was responsible for the extension and decoration of the palace according to Renaissance taste. The decoration of the main hall, the Salone dei Mesi, dates back to this period. Under the direction of Pellegrino Prisciani, the most important painters of the Officina Ferrarese were engaged: Cosmè Tura, Francesco del Cossa, Ercole de' Roberti, Gherardo di Andrea Fiorini da Vicenza and a mysterious painter called by historians the 'Master with wide eyes'.
Between the 18th and 19th century, following the historical events involving the Este dynasty and its city, the palace experienced a slow decline and was turned into a tobacco factory. During this period, the frescoes were covered and partly destroyed, only to come back to light between 1821 and 1840. In 1898, the 'Museo Civico di Palazzo Schifanoia' was finally established.
Museo Schifanoia - The Visit
The renovated Schifanoia Museum gives voice to a plurality of artistic techniques, from the miniature to sculpture, painting, Este ceramics and many other fine artefacts. During your visit to the museum, you will have the opportunity to fully understand the title of Ferrara as a Renaissance city, delving into the figures of Leonello and Borso d'Este, who were fundamental to the political and cultural development of the city during that historical period.
The Schifanoia Museum will allow you to cross the boundary between past and present to immerse yourself in a sumptuous and breathtaking environment. Awe is the emotion that reigns inside these rooms, especially in the extraordinary Hall of the Months. Here you are in the presence of one of the most impressive secular painting cycles of the Renaissance, whose painted surface at one time reached 525 square metres. This decorative apparatus depicts the political life of the court punctuated by the solar year, with astrological and mythological references. Seven of the twelve original sections can be admired, each corresponding to a month of the year. The cycle is structured in three levels: in the lower level are the representations of court life in each month, in the middle level are the astrological deities governing the month, and in the upper level one can admire the celestial sphere with the triumphs of the planetary deities of reference.
One after the other, the scenes depicted and their wealth of detail will leave you breathless, enraptured and immersed in the imagery of the Este court.
With the Museum-MIX App, a visit to the Schifanoia Museum can become an interactive and immersive experience: with one click you can access a variety of content and - with the support of augmented reality - fully immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the great Ferrara Renaissance.
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You must not know…
THE REDISCOVERY OF THE FRESCOES. It was the curiosity of the restorer and painter Giuseppe Saroli who brought the frescoes to light in 1821. Together with Luigi Caroli and Francesco Avventi, they were the first to work on the restoration of the hall's decorations. This work was later entrusted to the Bolognese Alessandro Compagnoni.
A CENTURY-LONG MYSTERY. Ever since the rediscovery of the frescoes, the interpretation of the central band has been a real mystery. Many have associated them with allegories of the virtues, but this explanation did not seem to be convincing. It was the famous art historian Aby Warburg, in 1912, who revealed the key to understanding the cycle. It is a true astrological calendar, with reference to the court activities and rule of Borso d'Este. .
The connection between earthly life and the celestial sphere is made through the astrological divinities of the central belt, taken by Pellegrino Prisciani, court astrologer, from the writings of Abu-Ma'Shar.
WITHOUT JUSTICE. In the Hall of Virtues, where Borso held his audiences, Justice is not represented. For decades it was thought that Borso himself depicted it, but it is more likely that this virtue - certainly pre-eminent over the others - was destroyed.
Must-see because....
Upon entering the Hall of the Months you will be fascinated by the pictorial cycle created by the greatest painters of the Ferrara Workshop
You will discover the wonderful artistic techniques, sculptures and fine artifacts
Troverete un museo bellissimo e molto coinvolgente che sicuramente non vi annoierà.