Museums: Museo Novecento

Florence has many museums, more than 75. 

  

One of the newest museums is the Museo Novecento, opened in 2014.  Like its counterpart in Milan, the Museo Novecento in Florence is dedicated to Italian art of the 1900's (hence the name Novecento or 900's).

The museum is housed in a former hospital and monastery founded in the 13th century.  It was known as the Ospedale di San Paolo (or St. Paul's Hospital) and served as a hospice for pilgrims and a hospital.  In the 1400's, a loggia was added and later decorated with glazed terra cotta medallions by Andrea della Robbia.

The Ospedale di San Paolo, now the Museo Novecento (in Florence, Italy)

The Museo Novecento has a growing collection of Italian art from the 20th century.  Today, the collection has abut 300 pieces. We toured the museum recently and very much enjoyed viewing the collection.  Below are photos of some of the works that we especially liked.   

A view of the cloister of the building.  The cloister is peaceful and decorated with modern art, such as the neon installation "EVERYTHING MIGHT BE DIFFERENT".

The museum is hosting a special exhibition of Estonian art: "VISIONS FROM THE NORTH. Estonian Painting from Enn Kunila’ s Collection, 1910 – 1940".  According to the curator, the "exhibition presents a selection of paintings from the Enn Kunila collection, which traces the origins and developments of modernity in Estonia and depicts atmospheres, colours and landscapes" by Estonian artists.  Most of the works are characterized by use of varied bight colors.  Some of the paintings some were painted in Italy by Estonians visiting the country.

For fans of 20th century art, we recommend visiting the Museo Novecento.

P.S.  While touring the museum, we were shushed, not by a guard, but by a saintly image on the wall of a gallery.  Part of the museum was once a Franciscan monastery.  The Rule of St. Francis admonishes silence. 

Fresco depicting a saint admonishing silence (possibly Saint Claire of Assisi)