The Giovanni Züst Cantonal Art Gallery houses a collection of works by artists active in the Canton of Ticino between the 17th and 19th centuries.
The core of the collection was donated to the Canton of Ticino in 1966 by the art collector Giovanni Züst (Basel, 1887 – Rancate, 1976). It consists primarily of works by Antonio Rinaldi (1816–1875), a painter originally from Tremona, just a few kilometres from Rancate. The gallery preserves approximately 100 of his paintings and more than 250 drawings.
Giovanni Züst’s relationship with art was instinctive, passionate and deeply engaging. A generous patron of the arts, he donated part of his silver collection to the Historisches Museum in St. Gallen in 1969, while his collection of Etruscan and Greek artefacts, donated in 1961, formed the original foundation of the Antikenmuseum in Basel.
The Mendrisiotto region, particularly through Rinaldi’s works, represents the most distinctly local aspect of the collection. However, the gallery also has a broader artistic dimension, exemplified by masterpieces by Giovanni Serodine and Giuseppe Antonio Petrini.
The gallery holds three works by Giovanni Serodine (1594/1600–1630), described by art historian Roberto Longhi as “not only the greatest painter from the Canton of Ticino, but also one of the most important figures in 17th-century Italian painting.” Among these works, Saint Peter in Prison is undoubtedly the most valuable masterpiece in the collection.
The gallery also preserves a significant number of works by Giuseppe Antonio Petrini, originally from Carona and one of the leading figures of 18th-century Lombard painting.
Nevertheless, the 19th century remains the most extensively represented period. Alongside Rinaldi, the collection includes paintings by important Ticino artists who all studied at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts in Milan, including Luigi Rossi, Adolfo Feragutti Visconti, Ernesto Fontana and Bernardino Pasta.
The collections have continued to grow through new acquisitions, donations and loans. The Giovanni Züst Art Gallery also plays an active role in promoting culture by regularly organising high-quality temporary exhibitions curated by prominent figures in the art world. Guided tours are available by appointment, along with customised educational programmes and interactive activities designed for schools.
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