Page 281 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

FL ORENCE  279

A r n o

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Part of the 15th-century Cassone Adimari by Lo Scheggia in the Accademia
1 Galleria are among the most dramatic
0 metres 50 dell’Accademia of Michelangelo’s works.
0 yards 50 The statues were presented
Via Ricasoli 60. Map 2 D4. to the Medici family in 1564 by
Tel 055 238 86 12 (information). the artist’s nephew, Leonardo.
Open 8:15am–6:50pm Tue–Sun
Key They were then moved to the
(occasional extended hours in the Grotta Grande in the Boboli
Suggested route summer). Closed public hols.
& ^ 7 ∑ accademia.org Gardens, where casts of the
originals can now be seen.
The Academy of Fine Arts, The Accademia also contains
The Giardino dei founded in 1563, was the first an important collection of
Semplici was school established in Europe paintings by 15th- and 16th-
opened in 1543. specifically to teach the century Florentine artists,
techniques of drawing, among them Filippino Lippi,
painting and sculpture. Fra Bartolomeo, Bronzino
The art collection and Ridolfo del Ghirlandaio.
displayed here was The major works include
formed in 1784 to provide the Madonna del Mare
material for students (Madonna of the Sea),
to study and copy. attributed to
The most Botticelli (1445–
famous work is 1510), and Venus
Michelangelo’s and Cupid by
David (1504), a Jacopo Pontormo
(1494–1556), based on a
colossal (5.2-m-/
V I A G I N O C A P P O N I Many of the biblical hero who Michelangelo. Also here is
preparatory drawing by
17-ft-) nude of the
an elaborately painted
4 Museo killed the giant
Archeologico
Goliath. The sculpture
wooden chest, the
was commissioned by
Cassone Adimari
Etruscan objects in
the city for Piazza della
(1440–45) by Lo
the museum were
originally in the
brother of Masaccio.
to the Accademia for safe-
Medici collections. Signoria, but it was moved Scheggia, the step-
keeping in 1873. One copy Originally part of a
now stands in its original wealthy bride’s
position (see pp294–5) trousseau, it is
and a second is on decorated with
Piazzale Michelangelo. details of
The David established Florentine life,
Michelangelo, at the age Michelangelo’s David clothing and
of 29, as the foremost architecture.
sculptor of his time. A scene of the bridal party
Michelangelo’s other master- appears on the chest in front
pieces in the Accademia include of the Baptistry.
the Quattro Prigionieri (Four The Salone della Toscana
5 Spedale degli Innocenti Prisoners), sculpted between (Tuscany Room) features modest
Opened in 1444, the city 1521 and 1523 and intended to paintings and sculptures by
orphanage by Brunelleschi adorn the tomb of Pope Julius II. 19th-century members of the
was decorated with cameos The muscular figures struggling Accademia and plaster models
by Andrea della Robbia. to free themselves from the stone by sculptor Lorenzo Bartolini.
278-279_EW_Italy.indd 279 26/04/16 5:16 pm