Of course being in Florence, we had to go to the Uffizi Gallery. But we needed some energy before taking on this major gallery, so we grabbed (standing!) a quick coffee in what happened to be, the place where the Negroni cocktail was born! Fun!
Appropriately caffeinated we were ready to take on the Uffizi Gallery! Us and what felt like thousands of other people.
Well, the crowds are understandable, the Uffizi houses one of the most incredible collections in the world. Very few museums have collections that come up to the same standard. In fact, it is considered to be the first museum in the world.
The Uffizi was built originally 1560-1580 as a suite of offices (uffici) for Duke Cosimo I and his administration. From 1581 it was used to showcase the Medici art collection, creating what is now the oldest gallery in the world.
It is packed with masterpieces, this collection is the world's largest and most comprising from the Renaissance.
Here we are admiring the Duke and Duchess of Urbino, by Piero della Francesca. Two of the first Renaissance portraits, created in 1472-1475.
We very rarely (luckily!) have chaotic crowds like this at Louvre Abu Dhabi. Visiting our museum is a much more civilised experience, here you had to fight your way to get anywhere close to the more famous artwork.
The Birth of Venus, by Botticelli, 1484, one of the museum's most famous artworks.
Inside the octagonal Tribune there was a temporary installation by Joana Vasconcelos. A hanging sculpture called Royal Valkyrie. Carin wasn't sure it really fit together, but I liked it.
The Lacoön by Baccio Bandinelli, 1520-24. Another familiar artwork, a few years ago we had a bronze copy at the LAD.
We had to have a coffee (well, beer) break half way through, before taking on the next floor. It was absolutely amazing weather so we sat outside on the terrace, right by the clock tower.
On the first floor of the Uffizi, we found some newer artwork. Like this self portrait from last year, of Yan Pei Ming.
And I found another Pistoletto!
Self portrait of Ai Wei Wei:
A quote by Jenny Holzer:
The beautiful "bookmark angel" by Rosso Fiorentino, 1521 - Angel Playing a Lute. Loved this!
It was actually an exhausting visit as there was just so much to look at, and so many important masterpieces. In the end we just couldn't digest any more, in every room there was something we knew from our art history courses. In. Every. Room.
Venus of Urbino by Titian, 1538.
The Verone (=terrace) is the part that connects the west and east wings of Uffizi. A luminous room with views of the river on one side, and the courtyard of the Uffizi on the other.
Judith beheading Holofernes by Artemisia Gentileschi, 1620.
Medusa by Caravaggio, 1596-97.
Well deserved delicious dinner after a heavily cultural day! Entrecôte and Tuscan red wine, with tiramisu for dessert, mmm!
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