Great art, particularly Renaissance art, is one of the main reasons tourists visit Florence. Some of the most famous artists in history and some of the best masterpieces in the art world can be found in Florence. If you visit Florence for art, these are the artists you won’t want to miss.
Miguel Angel
The great artist Michelangelo Buonarotti is well represented in Florence, with works in the Bargello and the Galleria dell’Accademia. Michelangelo’s most famous masterpiece, his statue of David, is housed in the Accademia, with copies of the original in front of the Palazzo Vecchio and in Piazzale Michelangelo, a large square that offers a panorama of the city.
Sandro Botticelli
Sandro Botticelli painted one of the most famous Renaissance paintings: “The Birth of Venus”, which depicts a beautiful girl with long, flowing hair floating on a shell. This painting and many more are in the Botticelli Room of the Uffizi Gallery.
Fra Angelico
Florence’s most famous monk is also one of its most beloved painters. Fra Angelico, also known as Fra Angelico da Fiesole or Beato Angelico, is best known for the numerous religious frescoes that he painted on the walls of the San Marco monastery, where he resided as a Dominican monk alongside Girolamo Savonarola.
Donatello
The art of the famous sculptor Donatello is featured in a number of famous Florence attractions. Look for his bronze “David” in the Bargello, statues in the Campanile and other sculptures in the churches of San Lorenzo and Orsanmichele. Donatello also helped Lorenzo Ghiberti with the construction of the Baptistery doors (see below).
Lorenzo Ghiberti
The art of the sculptor Lorenzo Ghiberti is exhibited on the north and east doors of the Baptistery, considered the oldest building in Florence. Take a look at the beautiful replicas of Ghiberti’s bronze doors, particularly the panels on the eastern doors, also known as the ‘Gates of Paradise’, then head to the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, the museum that houses many works of original art associated with the Duomo of Florence. , to see the real thing.
Filippo Brunelleschi
Florence’s landmark, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (also known as the Duomo), is distinguished by its tall red brick dome visible for miles around. This incredible feat of engineering and artistic elegance is thanks to Filippo Brunelleschi. While Brunelleschi is best known for his dome, he was also involved in the design of several other buildings in Florence, including the Basilicas of San Lorenzo and Santo Spirito.
Masaccio
For the average traveler, the name Masaccio may not mean much. But in the Florentine art world, Masaccio is hailed as one of the first great painters of the Renaissance. Masaccio’s most famous works are the frescoes in the Brancacci Chapel, located in the church of Santa Maria del Carmine.
Leonardo da Vinci and Mona Lisa in Florence
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