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Art history in Florence: La loggia del Bigallo

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

Walking in front of  Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral, you will see – right in the corner in front of you, between piazza San Giovanni and Via dei Calzaiuoli – a particular building with two wide arches; it’s called “Loggia del Bigallo”, and was part of a construction that housed the “Compagnia della Misericordia” (the Company of Mercy).


Built around 1352, the Loggia was used as a shelter for lost children and unwanted infants who were abandoned to0 the care of the Company of Mercy.  In 1425 the “Compagnia of Santa Maria del Bigallo”, normally housed at Orsanmichele, transfered here as well. They used to take care of pilgrims and travellers at their Ospedale di Santa Maria del Bigallo, located in Fonteviva.

The two arches are richely decorated with bas-reliefs of prophets, Angel, the Virtues, a Christ giving benediction and an Ecce Homo. Nowadays, the Loggia hosts a museums of objects related to the Compagnia del Bigallo.

(source: Wikipedia)

Every building in Florence hides a story – discovering it with the Institute Galilei’s art history course is really easy and interesting!

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Art history in Florence: The church of the brides

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

The square of Santissima Annunziata is one of the most beautiful in Florence. In its perfect Renaissance structure hides many anecdotes that not everyone knows. Each piece of the square can be analyzed in its single story – we will start talking about the Basilica of Santissima Annunziata.

The Basilica of the Most Holy Annunciation (Basilica della Santissima Annunziata) is a Catholic church located in Santissima Annunziata Square, in Florence.

This basilica was founded in 1250 by the Seven Holy Founders, the seven Florentine youths belonging to patrician families that formed the Servite Order. The Servite is one of the five original Catholic mendicant orders and its members (called Servite Friars or Servants of Mary) are devoted to the Mother of God.

The Basilica della Santissima Annunziata still is the mother church of the Servite Order.

Inside the Basilica there’s a miraculous painting of the Annunciation that, after being begun by one of the monks in 1252, was supposedly completed by an angel while he slept.

A special atrium (Chiostrino dei voti) has been built to house the votive offerings of the pilgrims that came to venerate the painting. This painting has always been venerated, especially by girls and women in childbed and, traditionally, the Florentine brides visit this shrine to leave their bouquets as a gift to the Virgin Mary.

This church is just on the Institute Galilei’s doorstep and is worth visiting.

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Art history in Florence: The Bargello museum | Histoire de l’art à Florence: Le musée Bargello

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

Yes, right: Florence is the best town in Italy where people can get directly in touch with Art, and everyone who comes here knows for sure, also only by name, museums like the Uffizi Gallery, the Accademia Gallery or Palazzo Pitti. But only few people know that here in Florence there is much more to see – without standing in a queue for hours and hours.

The Bargello Museum is one of the less-known museums in Florence, but it really worths the visit. Its strange name comes directly from Latin: the word “bargillus” means, in fact, castle or fortified tower; that’s what the Bargello Palace, also known as Palace of the people, actually is.

Originally used as a prison, this middle age palace is nowadays hosting a rich art collection which includes the masterpieces of artists like Michelangelo, Donatello, Gemito, San Sovino, Della Robbia, Cellini.
Going there, you will also have the possibility to see a fine collection of ceramics, textile, tapestries, ivory, silver, armours and old coins.
If this is not enough for you, let me tell you that this museums also features the competing designs created by Lorenzo Ghiberti and Filippo Brunelleschi to win the contest for the doors of the Florentine Baptistery.

This museum is just one of the visits included in the Institute Galilei’s art history program.

| Oui, c’est vrai: Florence est l’une des meilleures villes Italienne où vivre l’art de première main, et tout les touristes qui viennent ici connaîtrent surement la Galérie des Uffizi, l’Accademia ou Palazzo Pitti. Mais pas tout le monde sait qu’ici à Florence il y a plein des autres places et musées merveilleux qu’on peut voir sans attendre un après midi entier en file.

Le musée du Bargello c’est pas trop connu, mais vaut vraiment la visite. Son nom vient du latin, où le mot bargillus indique un chateau fortifié ou une tour; exactément ce qu’est le palace du Bargello, qui est nommé aussi comme palace du peuple.

Usé initialement comme prison, le palace du moyen âge offre aujourd’hui une grande collection avec chef d’oeuvre de Michelangelo, Donatello, Gemito, San Sovino, Della Robbia, Cellini aussi, et une très belle collection de céramiques, textiles, tapis, argents.

En plus, le musée conserve les dessins de compétition crées par Ghiberti et Brunelleschi pour le concour de la porte du Baptistère.

Ce musée est compris dans notre programme d’Histoire de l’art.

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