TRIUMPHS OF THE BRUSH & CHISEL

Nestled inside one of Florence’s oldest buildings lies a superb collection of Gothic and Renaissance statuary. Don’t miss the chance to admire some of the city’s most cherished works of art on a private tour of the Bargello Museum.

Built in 1255, the palazzo you will visit was originally the official residence of the Podestà, Florence’s supreme governing magistrate. Its name derives from the Bargello, the city’s police chief, who resided here in the 16th century when the premises were occupied by a prison. Since 1865 it has been the setting for an extraordinary collection of sculptures, including works by Della Robbia, Verrocchio, Cellini and Giambologna. Skilfully crafted decorative art pieces such as ceramics, silverware, enamels and bronzes are also on display. Four of Michelangelo’s works will allow you to become more intimately acquainted with his prodigious talent: Bacchus, carved when the artist was only 22 and among his rare non-religious, classical-themed creations; the unfinished Tondo Pitti, a bas-relief of a Madonna and Child; the fearless bust of Brutus, probably representing the murderer Lorenzino de’ Medici; the so-called David-Apollo, whose subject is still wrapped in mystery. Highlights also include Donatello’s St. George, two representations of David and his fierce Marzocco lion.

After visiting the museum, make your way through the city centre, cross the Ponte Vecchio bridge and reach the Oltrarno district. Here, beyond the bare, unassuming, though perfectly proportioned facade of the Church of Santo Spirito another of Michelangelo’s gems can be found. His Crucifix is among the treasures preserved within the walls of the splendidly designed, harmonious basilica, an architectural masterpiece designed by Brunelleschi in the 15th century. In 1492, at the age of 17, Michelangelo was a guest of the monastery. Here he had the opportunity to gain in-depth understanding of the human anatomy by studying the corpses that lay in the convent’s hospital. As a thank you gift to the Augustinian monks he carved this lifelike wooden sculpture, an early manifestation of his genius.

The last stop on your tour will lead you to discover one of the city’s best-known painted masterpieces. The Brancacci Chapel inside the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine was decorated by Masolino and Masaccio between 1424 and 1427. The fresco cycle, representing scenes from Genesis and the Life of St. Peter, was a source of inspiration for generations of artists. Your guide will supply the key to unlock the meaning of these celebrated paintings and explain why Masaccio is considered to be the first great painter of the Italian Renaissance. His masterful use of colour and light, ground-breaking scientific approach to perspective and realistic representation of anatomical details and emotions sparked a new era in the development of modern painting.