Sebastiano Ricci's Baroque Masterpiece Returns to Original Oratory in Bologna

Sebastiano Ricci's 'La Nascita del Battista' (c. 1695) has been temporarily relocated from the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna to its original home, the Oratorio di San Giovanni Battista dei Fiorentini, until May 29, 2023. The painting, depicting the birth of John the Baptist, was commissioned by the Confraternity of the Fiorentini and removed during Napoleonic requisitions in 1798. The initiative is a collaboration between Banca di Bologna, the University of Bologna's Department of Cultural Heritage, and the Pinacoteca Nazionale, curated by Mirella Cavalli and Luca Ciancabilla. The oratory, restored in 2004 by Banca di Bologna under architect Glauco Gresleri, now serves as a venue for meetings and events. The temporary return allows viewers to see the work surrounded by 17th-century frescoes by Domenico Baroni, Mauro Aldrovandini, Giuseppe Rolli, and Paolo Guidi. Alberto Ferrari, Director General of Banca di Bologna, emphasized the bank's commitment to cultural heritage, noting the restoration and the opportunity to open a private space to the public. The oratory is located at corte de' Galluzzi 6, Bologna, and guided visits are available by reservation.