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.
For art lovers who have found a luxury villa in Florence and are planning on exploring the city, this museum should not be missed!
6. Giambologna's Birds
Speaking of Giambologna, there is another, really rather intriguing group of works by the artist located in the Bargello's collection.
For art lovers who have found a luxury villa in Florence and are planning on exploring the city, this museum should not be missed!
6. Giambologna's Birds
Speaking of Giambologna, there is another, really rather intriguing group of works by the artist located in the Bargello's collection.
This is his series of sculpted life-size bronzes of birds, that were originally commissioned and used to decorate garden grottoes and fountains in the Boboli Gardens of Florence and at Pratolino, and the bronze doors of the cathedral of Pisa. For these sculptures he even invented a special "impressionistic" technique in wax to recreate the texture and image of their plumage. This was then carefully and faithfully translated by skillful casting into the final bronze versions.
7. Giambologna's Oceanus
Another, final work by Giambologna that is located in the Bargello is his Oceanus. The original sculpture that once adorned his incredibly famous fountain in the Boboli Gardens – which was his most important fountain in the latter end of his career – is now located in the museum. Once located standing on the fountain (a copy now replaces it) above three crouching river gods with upturned urns, all of which is situated on top of a large granite 'tazza' representing the ocean, it is now much more readily analysed and savoured in its new home.
7. Giambologna's Oceanus
Another, final work by Giambologna that is located in the Bargello is his Oceanus. The original sculpture that once adorned his incredibly famous fountain in the Boboli Gardens – which was his most important fountain in the latter end of his career – is now located in the museum. Once located standing on the fountain (a copy now replaces it) above three crouching river gods with upturned urns, all of which is situated on top of a large granite 'tazza' representing the ocean, it is now much more readily analysed and savoured in its new home.
8. Donatello's Marzocco
The Marzocco is the heraldic lion that is a symbol of Florence, was a sculptural work that was commissioned by the city since the late 14th century. These were located in the Piazza della Signoria and the best known of these is this version, by Donatello, which was made in 1418–20. Donatello’s Marzocco was placed in the Piazza della Signoria in 1812, but was shortly thereafter moved to the Bargello in 1885 and was replaced with a copy. The copy remains in the Piazza della Signoria but the original in the Bargello is great to see as, like with the Oceanus, you can get closer and spend longer observing it.
Be sure to read on to the final post in this series for more must-see works from the wonderful Bargello museum in Florence.
The Marzocco is the heraldic lion that is a symbol of Florence, was a sculptural work that was commissioned by the city since the late 14th century. These were located in the Piazza della Signoria and the best known of these is this version, by Donatello, which was made in 1418–20. Donatello’s Marzocco was placed in the Piazza della Signoria in 1812, but was shortly thereafter moved to the Bargello in 1885 and was replaced with a copy. The copy remains in the Piazza della Signoria but the original in the Bargello is great to see as, like with the Oceanus, you can get closer and spend longer observing it.
Be sure to read on to the final post in this series for more must-see works from the wonderful Bargello museum in Florence.
Photo credits
picture 1: Sailko / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Sailko / CC BY-SA 3.0
picture 1: Sailko / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Sailko / CC BY-SA 3.0
