Gallery of the Academy

The Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence is one of the most famous museums in the world, known especially for housing the famous David by Michelangelo. The history of the Gallery began in 1784, when Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo of Lorraine founded the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, with the intention of creating a structure that combined artistic education and art collections. The gallery was established as an appendix to the Academy to provide students with educational models through significant works of art. The Academy is housed in the spaces of the former Hospital of San Matteo and the Convent of San Niccolò di Cafaggio, whose rooms were used to exhibit ancient works of art, mainly of religious subject, collected from the suppressed convents by the Grand Duke at the end of the 18th century and later by Napoleon Bonaparte in the 19th century. This collection includes masterpieces such as the Maestà by Cimabue, works by Giotto, Masaccio, Botticelli, and many other Renaissance artists. The highlight of the Gallery is undoubtedly Michelangelo’s David, transferred to the Gallery in 1873 from its original location in Piazza della Signoria to protect it from environmental damage. Architect Emilio De Fabris designed a special tribune with a large skylight window to house the David, which was completed in 1882. This arrangement not only protected the statue, but allowed it to be admired in its entirety under ideal natural light. In addition to the David, the Galleria dell’Accademia also houses other works by Michelangelo, including the Prisoners, four powerful sculptures of unfinished male nudes originally intended for the tomb of Pope Julius II. These works, transferred to the Gallery in 1909, represent figures trapped in marble, offering a fascinating insight into Michelangelo’s creative process and his concept of “unfinished”. The Galleria dell’Accademia is not only Michelangelo. The collection also extends to a wide range of paintings from the 13th to the 16th century, including works by masters such as Andrea Orcagna, Lorenzo Monaco, Paolo Uccello, and Filippino Lippi. Particularly notable is the collection of altarpieces and gilded polyptychs, which offer an overview of Florentine medieval and Renaissance painting. Another important section of the museum is the Bartolini Plaster Cast Gallery, which houses a collection of plaster models by Lorenzo Bartolini and his student Luigi Pampaloni. These models, originally used as educational tools for Academy students, include preparatory studies for monumental sculptures and portraits, offering a valuable glimpse into the artistic process of the 19th century. The Galleria dell’Accademia also houses a collection of musical instruments from the Luigi Cherubini Conservatory. This collection includes rare and precious instruments belonging to the Medici and Lorraine families, including works by famous luthiers such as Stradivari and Bartolomeo Cristofori, the inventor of the piano. This section testifies to the grand ducal families’ passion for music and theater. Over time, the Galleria dell’Accademia has undergone numerous expansions and renovations to improve the visitor experience and the conservation of works of art. Among the most recent works, the Colossus room has been renovated to accommodate a greater number of works from the 15th and 16th centuries, creating a more spacious and bright environment.