Restoration of the canvases in the Hall of Forty
The room that precedes the Aula Magna takes the name of Sala dei Quaranta from the presence of forty portraits by the artist Gian Giacomo dal Forno of illustrious foreign students who over the centuries have attended the University of Padua. This room documents the role of the University as a great driving force for meetings, freedom, exchanges and the dissemination of culture.
The countries of origin of the scholars represented in the forty canvases are: Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Belgium, Bohemia, Bosnia, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, England, Ireland, Holland, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Romania, Russia and Hungary.
Currently, the Sala dei Quaranta houses the wooden chair of Galileo Galilei.
The fundraising campaign ended successfully thanks to the help of the many donors who believed in this project. The restoration of the paintings of the Sala dei Quaranta was made possible through donations from private citizens, companies, associations, service clubs, consulates and embassies who decided to actively participate in the enhancement of the University's heritage by becoming protagonists of the celebrations of the Eighth Centenary of the University of Padua.
1. Damiano De Goes, Portuguese diplomat and historian (1502-1574) - Restoration supported by the Professional Order of Chartered Accountants and Accounting Experts of Padova
2. Antonio Agustin, historian of Roman law and Spanish canon (1517-1586) - Restoration supported by Avv. Giovanni Tretti – GTA Law Firm
3. Emile Perrot, French humanist and jurist (?-1556) - Restoration supported by Avv. Giovanni Tretti – GTA Law Firm
4. Michel de l'Hospital, French Chancellor of State (1504?-1573) - Restoration supported by Solgar Italia Multinutrient S.p.A.
5. Caspar Bauhin, Swiss anatomist and botanist (1560-1624) - Restoration supported by Arneg S.p.A.
6. Jean Prevost, Swiss botanist and physician (1585-1631) - Restoration supported by Bios Line S.p.A.
7. Adriaan van den Spiegel, Flemish anatomist and surgeon (1578-1625) - Restoration supported by: Soroptimist International - Club of Padova, Lions Club - II District 108 TA3, Lions Club - Padova Antenore, Lions Club - Padova Carraresi, Lions Club - Padova Gattamelata, Lions Club - Padova Tito Livio, Lions Club - Padova Elena Cornaro Piscopia, Lions Club - Graticolato Romano, Fidapa – North East District, Innerwheel Italia – Club di Padova Carf, Innerwheel Italia – Club di Padova Sibilla De Cetto
8. Jan van Heurne, Dutch physician (1543-1601) - Restoration supported by UNOX S.p.A.
9. Thomas Linacre, English physician and humanist (1460-1524) - Restoration supported by Pettenon Cosmetics S.p.A.
10. Francis Walsingham, English statesman (1532-1590) - Restoration supported by CIB Unigas S.p.A.
11. William Harvey, English physician (1578-1657) - Restoration supported by the Italian Phlebological Institute
12. Oliver Goldsmith, Irish poet and playwright (1728-1774) - Restoration supported by Morocolor Italia S.p.A.
13. Johan Ruthven, Scottish politician (XVI century) - Restoration supported by Professional Order Interprovincial of Chemists and Physicists of Veneto
14. Olof Rudbeck, Swedish botanist and physician (1630-1702) - Restoration supported by Tigota
15. Olaus Worm, Danish philosopher and physician (1588-1654) - Restoration supported by Solgar Italia Multinutrient S.p.A.
16. Pier Giov. Resenius, Danish state councillor and historian (1625–1688) - Restoration supported by Sven C. Oehme and Beatrice De Bacco Oehme
17. Thomas Bartolin, Danish physician (1616-1680) - Restoration supported by the Professional Order of Surgeons and Dentists of Treviso
18. Nicolò da Cusa, German philosopher and theologian (1401-1464) - Restoration supported by Criocabin S.p.A.
19. Johann Georg Wirsüng, German physician (1600-1643) - Restoration supported by the Professional Order of Surgeons and Dentists of the province of Padova
20. Werner Rolfinck, German physician, botanist and chemist (1599-1673) - Restoration supported by Lundbeck Pharmaceuticals Italy S.p.A.
21. Protasius de Czernahora, Czech humanist (XV century) - Restoration supported by Schiavon Sistemi Srl
22. Jan Kritel Bohac, Czech naturalist and physician (1724-1768) - Restoration supported by Parco Natura Viva
23. Witelo, Polish philosopher and scientist (XIII century) - Restoration supported by Cappeller Spa
24. Klemens Janicius, Polish poet (1516-1543) - Restoration supported by Prof. Graziella Allegri
25. Jan Kochanowski, Polish poet (1530-1584) - Restoration supported by Prof. Graziella Allegri
26. Franciscus Skorjna de Poloczo, Belarusian physician and publisher (c. 1490-c. 1535) - Restoration supported by Solarls Jsc and the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Belarus in Naples Vincenzo Trani
27. Petr Vasiljevic Postnikov, Russian physician and philosopher (XVIII century) - Restoration supported by Ramina S.r.l.
28. Ianus Pannonius, Hungarian humanist (1434-1472) - Restoration supported by the Rotary Clubs of: Abano Terme, Camposampiero, Cittadella, Cittadella Alta Padovana, Padova, Padova Contarini, Padova Est, Padova Euganea, Padova Nord
29. Stephen Bathory, King of Poland, Hungarian (1533-1586) - Restoration supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary – Embassy of Hungary
30. János Sámboky, Hungarian physician and scholar (1531-1584) - Restoration supported by Vebi Biochemical Institute
31. Costantino Cantacuzino, Romanian philosopher and man of letters (1650-1716) - Restoration supported by Arneg S.p.A.
32. Marko Gerbec, Slovenian physician (1658-1718) - Restoration supported by the Republic of Slovenia
33. Demeter Dimitrije, Croatian scholar and physician (1811-1872) - Restoration supported by Nicolò Capuzzo
34. Georgius Benignus, Bosnian philosopher and theologian (?-1540) - Restoration supported by Banca Annia
35. Giovanni Argiropulo, Greek scholar (c. 1410-1492) - Restoration supported by the Historical Community of Greek Orthodox in Venice
36. Tolessandro Maurocordato, physician and great Greek dragonman (1636-1709) - Restoration supported by Sella Farmaceutici
37. Giovanni Capodistria, Greek physician and statesman (1776-1831) - Restoration supported by the Italian Phlebological Institute
38. Marino Becichemo, Albanian humanist (1468-1526) - Restoration supported by Arcs Unipd
39. Niccolò Leonico Tomeo, Albanian humanist (1456-1531) - Restoration supported by Caffè Diemme, Master PISIA A.Y. 2020/21 and various donors
40. Emanuele Sciascian, Armenian physician (1775-1858) - Restoration supported by Antonia Arslan, with Paola and Gianni Arslan
For more information on the project, visit the website dedicated to the University's 800th anniversary
Fundraising Office
Palazzo Storione
Riviera Tito Livio 6, 35123 Padova
Tel. +39 049 8273498
E-mail fundraising@unipd.it