Ren 88

Author: DeAgostini Publishing Company (UK)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-06-01
Features: Bologna is located at the center of an important road and waterway network and remains the hub of Italy's railway network. In the Middle Ages, due to its advantageous location, industries such as silk, wool textiles, and others flourished. During the Renaissance, it was also one of Italy's few renowned pottery towns. Additionally, Bologna holds a pivotal position in Italy's intellectual circles; the University of Bologna, founded in 1088, is not only one of the oldest universities in Europe but also, in the Middle Ages, ranked alongside Oxford and the University of Paris. The prosperity and wealth of the city at that time were vividly reflected in its architecture. The Gothic San Petronio Basilica, begun in 1390, stands as the best example of this. In the second half of the 16th century, the works of the Carracci family brought Bologna's unique painting tradition to its peak. The Carracci family abandoned the prevailing Mannerist style of the time and created a solid and natural style. Together with their disciples, such as Domenichino and Reni, they formed the Bolognese School, making Bologna the artistic center of northern Italy. After Reni's death in 1642, Guercino (meaning "hunchback," originally named Francesco Barbieri, 1519–1666) took his place and became a prominent figure. Guercino was born in a small town 30 kilometers north of Bologna and later moved to the city. After Guercino's death in 1666, Bologna continued to produce talented artists, including many outstanding painters, but no one after that reached the level of the first half of the 17th century!