Giorgio Morandi's Enduring Bond with Grizzana: Art Historian Marilena Pasquali Corrects the Record
Marilena Pasquali, an art historian and the inaugural director of the Museo Morandi in Bologna, addressed misunderstandings regarding Giorgio Morandi's relationship with Grizzana Morandi. In her response to an article in Artribune, she emphasized that Morandi regarded the town as a site for both work and contemplation, rather than merely a summer getaway. His initial visit occurred in 1913, where he spent summers, as noted by his sister, Maria Teresa Morandi. After a 13-year hiatus, he constructed a house in 1960 that served as his studio. Morandi passed away in Bologna on June 18, 1964. In 1994, the house was left to Grizzana by Maria Teresa. Pasquali's forthcoming biography, 'Morandi Vivo' (Gli Ori, 2025), aims to dispel myths, with a conference planned by the Centro Studi Morandi for November 2026.
Key facts
- Marilena Pasquali is president of Centro Studi Morandi for 25 years and former director of Museo Morandi.
- Morandi first visited Grizzana in 1913 and considered it a place of work and reflection.
- Maria Teresa Morandi's handwritten list documents all of Morandi's stays in Grizzana.
- Morandi stayed at Casa Veggetti for eleven summers (1929-1933) and four summers at Rocca di Roffeno.
- From 1939 to 1944, Morandi returned to Casa Veggetti.
- Morandi built his own house in Grizzana in 1960, his first studio.
- Maria Teresa Morandi bequeathed the house to the Comune of Grizzana in 1994.
- Pasquali published 'Morandi Vivo' (2025), the first biography of Morandi.
- A two-day conference on Morandi will be held in Bologna in November 2026.
- Pasquali will focus on 1957 as a 'year of grace' in her conference talk.
Entities
Artists
- Giorgio Morandi
- Maria Teresa Morandi
Institutions
- Centro Studi Morandi
- Museo Morandi
- Comune di Grizzana Morandi
- Comune di Bologna
- MAMbo
- Palazzo Pepoli
- Artribune
Locations
- Grizzana Morandi
- Bologna
- Rocca di Roffeno
- Appennino
- Firenze
- Venezia
- Pistoia