As mentioned in the last two posts in this series, the Bargello is one of the best and most important art museums in Florence and is really a rather exceptional institution. A sculpture museum, it is home to a large variety of pieces, including early works by great masters of the Renaissance such as Donatello and Michelangelo, as well as lesser-known but equally important artists such as Giambologna and Cellini.
It is a must-see art museum so art lovers who have found a luxury villa in Florence should be sure to set aside time to visit! Here are our final picks of highlights of the collection.
It is a must-see art museum so art lovers who have found a luxury villa in Florence should be sure to set aside time to visit! Here are our final picks of highlights of the collection.
9. Verrocchio's David
Andrea del Verrocchio, or Andrea di Michele di Francesco de' Cioni, was an Italian painter, sculptor, and goldsmith. The master of an important workshop in Renaissance Florence, he became known by his nickname Verrocchio, from the Italian words for "true eye", due to his esteemed reputation as an artist are the time. However, today, few works exist that can be definitively attributed to him and he is most famous at the teacher of Leonardo da Vinci. His sculptural legacy is most important and, luckily, the Bargello is home to one of his works.; his bronze statue of David.
Likely made between 1473 and 1475, it was commissioned by the Medici family and is rumoured to have been modelled on the handsome young student of his workshop, Leonardo da Vinci. Originally installed in the Palazzo Vecchio in 1476, it now has a permanent home in the Bargello.
Andrea del Verrocchio, or Andrea di Michele di Francesco de' Cioni, was an Italian painter, sculptor, and goldsmith. The master of an important workshop in Renaissance Florence, he became known by his nickname Verrocchio, from the Italian words for "true eye", due to his esteemed reputation as an artist are the time. However, today, few works exist that can be definitively attributed to him and he is most famous at the teacher of Leonardo da Vinci. His sculptural legacy is most important and, luckily, the Bargello is home to one of his works.; his bronze statue of David.
Likely made between 1473 and 1475, it was commissioned by the Medici family and is rumoured to have been modelled on the handsome young student of his workshop, Leonardo da Vinci. Originally installed in the Palazzo Vecchio in 1476, it now has a permanent home in the Bargello.
10. Cellini's Ganymede
Benvenuto Cellini, born in 1500 in Florence, was a goldsmith, sculptor, draftsman, soldier, musician, and artist who was one of the most important artists of Mannerism. A controversial figure in his lifetime, he was, however, a lauded artist and a favourite of the Medici (who even stepped in and intervened when Cellini was sentenced to prison). He is best remembered today as a sculptor and produced famous works such as his Perseus with the Head of Medusa. The Bargello is home to his Ganymede, a work attributed to him on stylistic grounds, though not mentioned in his autobiography. Produced some time between 1548 and 1550, this bronze word depicts, Ganymede, a shepherd and son of Tros, a legendary king of Troy. His outstanding beauty caused Jupiter to fall in love with him and the god, as an eagle, carried the youth off to Olympus and made him his cup-bearer. This work depicts the surprised young man, atop the eagle.
Now that you have a neat little itinerary, be sure to pay a visit to the Bargello on your next trip to Florence and see the works for yourself!
Benvenuto Cellini, born in 1500 in Florence, was a goldsmith, sculptor, draftsman, soldier, musician, and artist who was one of the most important artists of Mannerism. A controversial figure in his lifetime, he was, however, a lauded artist and a favourite of the Medici (who even stepped in and intervened when Cellini was sentenced to prison). He is best remembered today as a sculptor and produced famous works such as his Perseus with the Head of Medusa. The Bargello is home to his Ganymede, a work attributed to him on stylistic grounds, though not mentioned in his autobiography. Produced some time between 1548 and 1550, this bronze word depicts, Ganymede, a shepherd and son of Tros, a legendary king of Troy. His outstanding beauty caused Jupiter to fall in love with him and the god, as an eagle, carried the youth off to Olympus and made him his cup-bearer. This work depicts the surprised young man, atop the eagle.
Now that you have a neat little itinerary, be sure to pay a visit to the Bargello on your next trip to Florence and see the works for yourself!
Photo credits
picture 1: Rufus46 / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: PROScottOldham / CC BY-SA 2.0;
picture 1: Rufus46 / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: PROScottOldham / CC BY-SA 2.0;
