Giulio Bargellini, Italian entrepreneur and art patron, dies at 91

Giulio Bargellini, the Italian entrepreneur, philanthropist, and art patron, died at the age of 91. Born in 1932 in Pieve di Cento, near Bologna, he founded G. Bargellini & C. in 1963, with the OVA brand (Ohm, Volt, Ampere), becoming a leader in emergency lighting systems for the European and Mediterranean markets. Beyond business, he was a passionate collector and patron, receiving honors including an honorary diploma from the Accademia di Belle Arti di Bologna and, in 2008, a medal and diploma from the University of Ferrara as a 'philanthropic entrepreneur and art patron.' In 2000, he inaugurated the Museo d'Arte delle Generazioni Italiane del '900 G. Bargellini (now MAGI '900 – Museo delle Eccellenze) in Pieve di Cento, Italy's first fully private museum, housed in a restored industrial archaeology building. The museum, conceived as a work in progress, hosts a substantial permanent collection and temporary exhibitions. Bargellini also sponsored exhibitions and publications through OVA, supporting established and emerging artists. In 2012, a graphic novel by Fabrizio Fabbri, dedicated to his grandchildren, recounted his life in a playful format, reflecting his passion for comics.