Museo Nazionale del Bargello

The museum

The ancient Palazzo del Podestà in Florence now houses the Bargello National Museum. Devoted mainly to sculpture, it is part of the ‘Bargello Museums’ together with the Medici Chapels, Orsanmichele, Palazzo Davanzati and Casa Martelli.

With the Royal Decree of 22 June 1865, the Bargello Museum became the first National Museum in Italy dedicated to medieval and Renaissance art. Its collection of statues is among the most remarkable in the world and includes masterpieces by Donatello, Luca della Robbia, Andrea del Verrocchio, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Benvenuto Cellini and many others.

Originally its collection came from the Medici, but other materials have flowed in through donations, private loans and the suppression of monastic orders following the Unification of Italy.

The collection

The Museum is spread over three floors: on the ground floor, there is the courtyard and the Michelangelo Room with sculptures by Buonarroti, Cellini, Giambologna and Ammannati. The first floor, on the other hand, opens with the imposing Sala di Donatello, followed by Luca della Robbia’s majolica sculptures, Ghiberti’s and Brunelleschi’s bronze panels, the Islamic art collections, the ancient Chapel frescoed by Giotto and other rooms. On the top floor are the collections of Andrea and Giovanni della Robbia, the Sala dei Bronzetti, the Sala di Verrocchio, the Sala del Medagliere, and the Sala dell’Armeria where objects from the ancient Medici armoury are displayed.

The artworks

• Marzocco, 1418 – 1420, Donatello (1386-1466)
• David, ca. 1440, Donatello (1386-1466)
• Madonna with Child (“Madonna of the Apple”), 1441 -1445, Luca della Robbia (1400-1482)
• David, 1466 -1469 ca., Verrocchio (Andrea di Cione) (1435-1488)
• Bacchus, 1496 -1497, Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564)
• Flying Mercury, 1578 – ca.1580, Giambologna (1529-1608)

The artists

• Donatello (1386-1466)
• Luca della Robbia (1400-1482)
• Verrocchio (Andrea di Cione) (1435-1488)
• Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564)
• Giambologna (1529-1608)

Photo: Court of Bargello National Museum, Florence