The vast and incredible Renaissance palace that is the Palazzo Pitti in Florence is surrounded by the famous Boboli Gardens and is a truly remarkable architectural gem. However, in addition to being an exceptional tourist attraction and piece of cultural heritage in its own right, the Palazzo Pitti is also home to the Palatine Gallery, the Silver Museum, the Gallery of Modern Art, and several other gallery spaces and exhibitions. If you have found a luxury villa in Florence and are interested in art, architecture, culture, and history, it is a one-stop shop for some of the richest and most interesting collections in the world.
While Florence is truly synonymous with the Renaissance we do recommend, however, that you take the time to visit the Gallery of Modern Art at the Palazzo Pitti, in particular, and take in some incredible works of art from the 19th century onwards. Located since 1922 on the second floor of the palace in rooms along the façade of the building that were once home to the Medici's library and along the side wings where various rooms were used for the children of the family and retainers, the museum was founded in 1914.
While Florence is truly synonymous with the Renaissance we do recommend, however, that you take the time to visit the Gallery of Modern Art at the Palazzo Pitti, in particular, and take in some incredible works of art from the 19th century onwards. Located since 1922 on the second floor of the palace in rooms along the façade of the building that were once home to the Medici's library and along the side wings where various rooms were used for the children of the family and retainers, the museum was founded in 1914.
The collection, however, is a good deal older than this and can be traced back to the remodelling of the Academy of Fine Arts in 1748 and the establishment of a gallery of modern art in the academy that was intended to house works by the prize-winners in the academy's competitions. This collection was then moved to the newly redecorated salons of the Palazzo Pitti but had grown so large by the mid-19th century that many pieces were ultimately transferred to the Palazzo della Crocetta, which became the first home of this newly formed, "Modern Art Museum." After the Risorgimento, the Grand Ducal family who had long inhabited the palazzo were expelled from the building, and the modern artworks of their collection were housed in the newly renamed, "Modern gallery of the Academy." As the number of pieces continued to grow under the patronage of Vittorio Emanuele II, the gallery was eventually moved to the Palazzo Pitti in 1922, where it was combined with the collection of modern artworks there that was owned by the state and the municipality of Florence and placed in apartments that had been recently vacated by members of the Italian Royal family. In 1928, the gallery was first opened to the public.
Spread across thirty different rooms, the collection is comprised of both works on canvas and paper and sculptural pieces and is arranged in chronological order, following the history of Tuscan and Italian art (though there are some foreign artists represented in the collection as well) from Neoclassicism right up to the 1930s. In addition to hosting one of the finest collections in the world of works by the Macchiaioli, the famous 19th century school of Tuscan artists, the gallery boasts works of art by many important names from Canova to Francesco Hayez to Giovanni Fattori.
Located inside the stunning apartments that formerly housed the Grand Dukes of Habsburg-Lorraine, which have been carefully restored to their former glory, this incredible art museum and its rich collection of wonderful pieces from the 19th century to the 1930s is a must-see for any art-lover who has found a luxury villa in Florence and is spending time exploring the birthplace of the Renaissance and the art capital of Tuscany. While the Renaissance gems that have put Florence on the map globally are a very important part of the history and heritage of the city, the collection of this museum is fascinating, rich, and represents a less well-known part of the history of art in Tuscany. Plus, you'll get some great views over the city and the Boboli Gardens while you wander around the gallery!
Spread across thirty different rooms, the collection is comprised of both works on canvas and paper and sculptural pieces and is arranged in chronological order, following the history of Tuscan and Italian art (though there are some foreign artists represented in the collection as well) from Neoclassicism right up to the 1930s. In addition to hosting one of the finest collections in the world of works by the Macchiaioli, the famous 19th century school of Tuscan artists, the gallery boasts works of art by many important names from Canova to Francesco Hayez to Giovanni Fattori.
Located inside the stunning apartments that formerly housed the Grand Dukes of Habsburg-Lorraine, which have been carefully restored to their former glory, this incredible art museum and its rich collection of wonderful pieces from the 19th century to the 1930s is a must-see for any art-lover who has found a luxury villa in Florence and is spending time exploring the birthplace of the Renaissance and the art capital of Tuscany. While the Renaissance gems that have put Florence on the map globally are a very important part of the history and heritage of the city, the collection of this museum is fascinating, rich, and represents a less well-known part of the history of art in Tuscany. Plus, you'll get some great views over the city and the Boboli Gardens while you wander around the gallery!
Photo credit: Seauton / CC BY-SA 4.0
