Florence is one of the great art centres of the world, known internationally for the many wonderful collections and museums that it houses and as birthplace of the Renaissance. Visitors nearly all try and make time for sites such as the Uffizi museum when visiting the city.
The serious art-lovers out there, however, might want to add something a little more off the beaten track to their itineraries; a visit to the Contini-Bonacossi Collection.
Maybe it's time to plan a trip, find yourself a Tuscan luxury villa and see this rare treat for yourself!
Put together by the politician, art collector and dealer, Count Alessandro Contini-Bonacossi (1878-1955), the collection is considered one of the most important art collections of the 20th century.
It was donated to the Italian state in 1969 but inheritance disputes meant that it ended up being sold off. It wasn't until 1998 that it was pieced back together and acquired by the Uffizi.
The collection is comprised of 50 works dating between the 14th and 18th centuries; 35 paintings, 12 sculptures and 11 coats of arms by Della Robbia alongside pieces of ancient furniture and majolicas.
The serious art-lovers out there, however, might want to add something a little more off the beaten track to their itineraries; a visit to the Contini-Bonacossi Collection.
Maybe it's time to plan a trip, find yourself a Tuscan luxury villa and see this rare treat for yourself!
Put together by the politician, art collector and dealer, Count Alessandro Contini-Bonacossi (1878-1955), the collection is considered one of the most important art collections of the 20th century.
It was donated to the Italian state in 1969 but inheritance disputes meant that it ended up being sold off. It wasn't until 1998 that it was pieced back together and acquired by the Uffizi.
The collection is comprised of 50 works dating between the 14th and 18th centuries; 35 paintings, 12 sculptures and 11 coats of arms by Della Robbia alongside pieces of ancient furniture and majolicas.
Artists such as Cimabue, Goya, Tintoretto, Bernini, Giovanni Bellini and Zurbaran are represented in the collection with contested works by the likes of Raphael and El Greco also present.
The current arrangement of the objects dates to 1933, when it was first moved from the Pitti Palace. The collection is now housed next to the more well-known Uffizi Gallery and is part of the Uffizi complex.
It is hoped that it will eventually be integrated with that of the Uffizi but it is currently normally closed to the public due to a lack of the staff required to keep it safe and maintained.
Some particular highlights of the collection are Bernini's “Martyrdom of St Lawrence” which, like all of Bernini's works, looks less like marble and more like a living, breathing thing; Cimabue's famous altarpiece, “Madonna Enthroned with the Child, St Francis, St. Domenico and two Angels” and Giovanni Bellini's strikingly moody “St Jerome in the Desert”.
The current arrangement of the objects dates to 1933, when it was first moved from the Pitti Palace. The collection is now housed next to the more well-known Uffizi Gallery and is part of the Uffizi complex.
It is hoped that it will eventually be integrated with that of the Uffizi but it is currently normally closed to the public due to a lack of the staff required to keep it safe and maintained.
Some particular highlights of the collection are Bernini's “Martyrdom of St Lawrence” which, like all of Bernini's works, looks less like marble and more like a living, breathing thing; Cimabue's famous altarpiece, “Madonna Enthroned with the Child, St Francis, St. Domenico and two Angels” and Giovanni Bellini's strikingly moody “St Jerome in the Desert”.
As previously mentioned, the collection is usually closed to the public but from April 8th to June 3rd this year there will be free guided tours offered. The tours are given in Italian but art is a universal language so, surely, anyone would be able to enjoy the opportunity to view these wonderful works of art!
Tours take place on Wednesdays at 2.30pm and 4.15pm and meet at the loggia of the Uffizi twenty minutes before the tours start. Booking is required and a maximum of 15 people are taken at a time with groups of up to five being able to reserve places.
There is a €4.00 booking fee that applies and tickets can be acquired by phoning +39055.2388693 (Tuesday-Saturday 2.30 – 4.30pm).
A trip to Florence is a must for all art-lovers out there and this unique collection is just one of the many things to see while there.
Tours take place on Wednesdays at 2.30pm and 4.15pm and meet at the loggia of the Uffizi twenty minutes before the tours start. Booking is required and a maximum of 15 people are taken at a time with groups of up to five being able to reserve places.
There is a €4.00 booking fee that applies and tickets can be acquired by phoning +39055.2388693 (Tuesday-Saturday 2.30 – 4.30pm).
A trip to Florence is a must for all art-lovers out there and this unique collection is just one of the many things to see while there.
