During our travels we have seen many, many pieces of the highest quality art. Such treasures we have seen! We have also seen, though, some minor pieces, or works by the great masters that are separated from large collections. Here is a somewhat random set of some I enjoyed.
First, here are two olive wood carvings in the chapel in Vinci (where Leonardo was baptized). First the Holy Family and then Christ washing the feet of His disciples.
A fresco of Christ washing the feet of His disciples was in Santa Maria Novella. I do not have the artist’s name on this one.
Another art wonder is Trinita (1428) by Masaccio. According to a Website on museums in Florence, this was the first time mathematical perspective was used in paintings among the Florentine artists. The Website also said that Masaccio was probably helped by Brunelleschi. You will find this art in Santa Maria Novella.
It is hard in the photo above to see the dove representing the Holy Ghost. Here is a close up of that section of the painting. The Holy Ghost is represented by a white dove between the top of Christ’s head and below the Father’s head.
I discovered an artist I hadn’t heard about before that began to intrigue me, Luca della Robbia (1399-1482). He was a sculptor in stone and bronze, but also developed a technique for glazed terracotta. I posted one item made from his workshop in the ceilings post, but here are some of his other work in terracotta. First, as part of several items trimming the edges of a dome in one part of the Basilica of Santa Croce, Elijah being fed by a raven.
Or one of his many examples of the Madonna, also in the Basilica of Santa Croce.
Finally, a fountain by Robbia in Santa Maria Novella that I could have included in my fountain post!
In the Basilica of Santa Croce there is a statue by Pio Fedi called the Liberty of Poetry.
According to the sign at the church, this statue may have served as an inspiration for our Statue of Liberty by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi. Bartholdi was in Florence at the time that Fedi (1870) was designing this statue. The sign in the church said that preparatory drawings of this statue were circulating among artists and a full-sized plaster copy of Liberty of Poetry was made in 1872. The influence is still open to debate, I understand. Here is another view of the Liberty of Poetry.
Also in the Basilica of Santa Croce is this creation by Donatello of the Annunciation. The figures carved in full relief are actually life-sized, although at the museum they were up high enough to not seem quite so big. First, the entire display and then a close up on the beautiful work and gold painting.
In a similar style is this decoration for a pulpit in Santa Maria Novella. I have a blurry sign with the name, but it seems to say created by Brunelleschi.
At the San Lorenzo Library, we found some illustrated Bibles. We were so intrigued we didn’t notice it was nearly time to close the museum. Here is one example, an illustrated page for the Book of Job.
Here is a second example, the Book of Isaiah.
In the San Miniato Cemetery is this sculpture on the tomb of a woman. I would assume the woman who died was a protector, teacher, or mother of children. Good statue for Mother’s Day. (I don’t have the name of the artist on this one either.)
At Orsanmichele, outside niches are decorated with the patron saints of the guilds important to life in Florence during the late Middle Ages and the early Renaissance. (I probably need a full post on the wonderful statues at Orsanmichele.) St. Matthew, the patron saint for bankers, was sculptured by Ghilberti (the same artist that did the Gates of Paradise on the Baptistery). Here are two views of that statue.
Finally, I’ll send with a photo of a section of the Gates of Paradise, by Ghilberti. The story of Abraham sacrificing Isaac (from the copy actually on the door outside).
I’m sure I could post more; perhaps I’ll do part two.
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