In 1784 Pietro Leopoldo established l’Accademia di Belle Arti ( Fine Arts Academy ) in the former properties of the convent of San Niccolò di Cafaggio and hospital of San Matteo ( St.Mathias ).
The part of the hospital building called Loggia di San Matteo has been occupied by the Academy’s Gallery, the collection of art which served to form generations of new artists.
The central part of the collection take the works of Michelangelo Buonarroti:
David
The sculpture of Carrara marble made by young Michelangelo between 1501-1504 shows David in the moment while he considers the challenge offered by Goliath.
Originally David has been placed on Piazza della Signoria in front of the entrance to Palazzo Vecchio, where now one can see a copy. Transferred to the Academy in 1873.
Prisoners (Schiavi)
The Pope Julius II has commissioned around 40 male sculptures for its tomb sarcophagus in Rome, but although Buonarotti has worked on them for long period of time, he left only four unfinished sculptures. They are the man figures covered with raw marble which was not removed by the artists, so now the figures make the impression as they are trying to liberate themselves from the stone, thus the name ‘Prisoners’. The idea of bodies imprisoned in marble has been followed by many of the artists like Rodin.
After death of Michelangelo the unfinished sculptures were moved to grotta del Buontalenti in Giardino di Boboli. In 1909 the Schiavi were replaced by the copies, and taken to the Gallery.
Pieta da Palestrina
This sculpture of Madonna crying over body of Jesus is probably partly done by Buonarroti
The part of museum called Gipsoteca hosts various sculptures by Lorenzo Bartolini and other artists from 19th century.
In Gipsoteca you can find also the copy of famous sculpture
Rape of Sabine Women ( Ratto delle Sabine ).
The original made by Gianbologna is on display in Loggia dei Lanzi.
During its existence Galleria dell’Accademia gathered also a vast collection of paintings, most of them have been relocated to different museums in Florence.
The modern paintings are now on separate exhibition in Palazzo Pitti, and the works that remain in the Gallery are from 13th – 15th centuries, allowing the visitor to trace the tradition of pre-Renaissance art, rich in symbols and allegories directed to illiterate Medieval spectator.
Among the artists whose paintings are on display in the Gallery are :
Lorenzo Monaco (Misericordia Domini )
Mariotto Albertinelli ( Holy Trinity)
Francesco Granacci ( Assumption of St.Mary) and
Lippo d’Andrea ( Madonna and Child with Saints)
Galleria dell’Accademia
Via Ricasoli 58-60,
50122 Firenze
Open : Tue -Sun 8.15-18.50
Closed : Mondays
Guides: florence, giambologna, michelangelo
