
 |
The History of Uffizi Gallery
The Uffizi gallery was built in 1581, under the request of
Granduca Francisco de’ Medici, son of Cosimo I. The original design was that of
Giorgio Vasari, one of the leading painters and architects during the 15th
century. His plan for this museum was quite a strategically planned building as
it was constructed adjacent to the Medici Palace and extended until the Arno
river, over the Ponte Vecchio bridge. The space was originally intended for
offices and to host bureaucratic meetings for various magistrates as apposed to
holding masterpieces as it is today. It was built rapidly despite minor
difficulties and major social events taking place in the area (ie: the marriage
of Francisco and the Giovanna of Austria).
In 1584, the magnificent Octagonal Platform (or ‘Tribuna
Ottagonale’) was built by Vasari’s successor Buontalenti. This special
cosmological structure consists of a weathercock which connects to an inside
pointer alluding to the Air element. The sky vault and red upholstery allude to
the Water and Fire elements respectively. There is an extraordinary octagonal
table preserved since since 1589 which sits in the middle of the room. In it
knows them adjacent to this a time conserved scientific instruments, the Armory
found place, and to the term of the first corridor Cabinet of the miniature- was
the “Cabinet of the Madame” - today where the Granduchessa conserved its joys
and small art objects.
These as soon as described they were know them them museali
more ancient and several in the content. From the other side of the building
they were found instead the laboratories of smaller limbs, the Foundry (or
pharmacy), where medicines, scents were distilled and sometimes poisons, while
to the term of the corridor, over the Loggia of the Lanzi it had been created a
hanging garden. The extraordinary wealth that the Gallery had its origins
since carried the enjoyment of the art, than in the city of Florence always it
had been of public domain, to a private dimension, or at least to one much
narrow one, and that was justified from the Doctors like one necessity dictated
from the will of conservation of the works.
|
Uffizi.com is now in Android Store!
|