Inside the Sanctuary of S. Maria della Vita, the rooms that once belonged to the ancient Hospital (1260-1798) house a collection of devotional objects linked to the history of the Confraternity of the Battuti of S. Maria della Vita, founders of the complex and the first care facility in the city, as well as the original core of the current Ospedale Maggiore. The museum aims to trace the history of health and care in the city of Bologna. To this end, alongside paintings, vestments, and sacred furnishings owned by the Confraternity, scientific materials from the ancient Pharmacy of the Hospital of Vita are collected, such as albarelli and medical instruments; also notable is an 18th-century scale. The museum was inaugurated in 1999 after the challenging restoration work that affected the Santa Maria della Vita complex, one of the most important monuments of Bolognese Baroque. Set up like a large Baroque sacristy, it occupies the spaces that hosted the ancient Hospital of the Battuti or of Vita. The exhibition spaces are mainly concentrated in two rooms: the first displays the picture gallery, where stand out the two works by Gaetano Gandolfi, the liturgical furnishings and the 16th-18th century vestments linked to the history of the Sanctuary, and the famous miniature portrait of Louis XIV, King of France, created by Jean Petitot (1607-1691). The second room contains 150 pharmacy jars (not all on display) from the old Pharmacy of the Hospital of Vita. Adjacent to the complex is the church of the same name, an elliptical-plan building designed by Bergonzoni (1692), with a copper dome designed by Antonio Bibiena, inside which is housed the Lamentation of the Dead Christ by Nicolò dell’Arca (created in 1463), composed of seven terracotta statues. Also following the restoration works, the Oratory of the Battuti was opened to the public, with a single access from the museum of which it is an integral part. Its origin dates back to the 15th century, but its current shape, a rectangular plan, is from the early 17th century. Among the works decorating the walls and ceiling are the altarpiece by Nosadella (1500-1571); four stucco statues of the city’s patron saints, two of which were made by Alessandro Algardi (1598-1654); paintings depicting episodes of the foundation and life of the hospital, including those by Cavedoni (1577-1662), Menghino del Brizio, Calvaert; The Assumption of the Virgin (1519-1522) by Alfonso Lombardi.
Information about the Museum of Health and Care
Via Clavature, 8,
40121 Bologna (Bologna)
051230260
graziano.campanini@ausl.bologna.it
Source: MIBACT
