THINGS OF BEAUTY

“….nor has there ever been seen a pose so easy, or any grace to equal that in this work, or feet, hands and head so well in accord, one member with another, in harmony, design, and excellence of artistry. And, of a truth, whoever has seen this work need not trouble to see any other work executed in sculpture, either in our own or in other times, by no matter what craftsman”. With these words Italian artist and historian Giorgio Vasari paid homage to Michelangelo’s David in 1550, praising the superb workmanship and unparalleled beauty of his enduring masterpiece.

Admire one of the greatest works of art ever sculpted and discover the torments, innate talent and creative brilliance of art history’s leading light on a tour of the Accademia Gallery. Founded in 1784 by Grand Duke of Tuscany Pietro Leopoldo, the Accademia has been home to the statue of David since 1873. Michelangelo was only 26 years old when he carved this exquisite work of craftsmanship out of a massive block of marble. The sculpture was originally intended to adorn the buttresses of the cathedral but when David was unveiled in 1504, it became clear that the grandeur and intensity of the hero demanded the more prestigious setting of Piazza della Signoria where a copy stands today. Your guide will throw light on the history behind this colossal 5.17 metre high marble statue and explain how David embodies Renaissance criteria of perfection. It was immediately reputed by the artist’s contemporaries to be a symbol of strength and heroism – an emblem of the city of Florence itself. The Accademia also preserves Michelangelo’s unfinished Prisoners and the statue of Saint Matthew along with a collection of paintings from the 13th to the 16th centuries.

After browsing the gallery, make your way to the New Sacristy of the Basilica of San Lorenzo where the funerary monuments of notable members of the Medici family are kept. Between 1521 and 1534 Michelangelo designed the structure, devised the sophisticated underlying symbolism of the chapel and created some of its most magnificent sculptures. These include the allegorical figures of Day, Night, Dusk and Dawn and the statues of Duke of Urbino Lorenzo and Duke of Nemours Giuliano. Here you will gain an understanding of the prime role played by the Medici patrons in the development of Michelangelo’s artistic career and the pre-eminence of the New Sacristy among the great accomplishments of Renaissance sculpture and architecture.

The last stop will bring you to the 14th century Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, a splendid example of Gothic architecture in Tuscany and a true treasure trove of wonders. The interior and cloister are filled with extraordinary paintings and sculptures by early Renaissance masters. Highlights include Giotto’s Crucifix, a skilful depiction of a human body; Masaccio’s Trinity, considered to be the first painting ever to display a scientific approach to perspective and space; the Tornabuoni chapel decorated with brightly coloured Scenes from the Life of the Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist by Ghirlandaio. You will be led past a dazzling array of works of art and learn how these celebrated “things of beauty” have earned their rightful place in the history of Italian art… and will thus be “joys forever”.