How to Explore Florence like an Art History Major: Part Four – Uffizi: The Primadonna of Renaissance Art Museums
For the last part of this series, I’ll cover the reigning queen of Renaissance Art museums: Gallerie degli Uffizi.
Although I am a massive art lover, I will admit that the Uffizi contains an overwhelming amount of art. It is a place where you can spend an entire day and still not see everything. If you have the opportunity to spread this gallery visit over two days, you may feel more awake to appreciate all the beauty within. But if not, there are some pieces that are a must-see.
Annunciation with St. Margaret and St. Ansanus, Simone Martini, 1333
This panel was painted for the altar of St. Ansanus in Siena. The whole panel emanates light, mainly from the vast amount of gold that was used. A detail that may be easy to miss is the speech that the angel Gabriel is saying to Mary, the speech that tells her that she will give birth to the Messiah. If you look at these letters from an angle, you will see that they are raised, making the scene appear more lively.
The Duke and Duchess of Urbino Federico da Montefeltro and Battista Sforza, Piero della Francesca, 1473-1475
Although it is not known for sure, the portrait of Battista Sforza may have been done as a memorial to her (she died from pneumonia after childbirth). This can be a reason why her skin is so pale, basically representing death. Also, her eyes lock with her husband as a symbol of their love that transcends death.As for her husband, he was portrayed from his good side. He was a commander and endured battles scars, which he did not want to be depicted. Although in my opinion, his very angular nose isn’t exactly the epitome of handsomeness. Another interesting detail is the duchess’s hair. Her hairline starts very far back, which is due to the fashion of the time of having high foreheads (women would pluck the hair from their hairlines in order to be in fashion…).
La Primavera, Botticelli, 1480
Out of all the paintings in the gallery, this one drew the largest crowd. Although the meaning behind the painting isn’t clear, one idea is that it was intended for the marriage of Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco, a member of the Medici family. In the centre is the goddess Venus who represents the interest in the classics that was popular during this time. Notice how the tree branches above her are curved, making her the central focus. On the far left is the god Mercury (wearing the winged sandals). Next to him are the Three Graces representing Chastity, Beauty and Love. I love how their clothing is so light and airy that it seems as though there is a breeze that is gently moving the material. On the far right is Zephyrus (the blue guy), who blows on the the nymph Chloris, turning her into Spring. Another thing to note are the orange trees, which were the symbol of the Medici family.
Birth of Venus, Botticelli, 1482-5
Another extremely famous piece by Botticelli, this painting depicts a theme from Ovid’s Metamophoses. Venus emerges from the sea after birth, fully grown, on the island of Cythera. To her left is Zephyrus with the nymph Chloris (they were also represented in La Primavera). Zephyrus blows wind that helps guide Venus to the island. To her left is Ponoma, or the goddess of Spring, who welcomes Venus. What makes this painting so beautiful is the figure of Venus. Her golden hair flows in the wind created by Zephyrus (notice how the light in the gallery enhances the gold). Her face is perfect, depicted half in light and half in shadow. And of course, the nude body of Venus is idealized, resembling the female figures depicted in antiquity. Her skin is very pale and if you look closely, she is outlined in dark paint that makes her pale skin stand out even more. She appears almost like a sculpture.
The Holy Family (Doni Tondo), Michelangelo, 1505-06
One of the most noticeable things about this panel is the sharpness of the clothing and the vibrant colours. The figures appear almost like sculptures, which is probably due to Michelangelo’s extension knowledge on the medium. The Virgin Mary appears the most vibrant and her central position shows her importance in the family. Something very interesting about this piece is that many of the details such as the colour and the depiction of the figures were precursors to Michelangelo’s work for the Sistine Chapel.
Judith Beheading Holofernes, Artemusua Gentileschi, 1620
This painting may not be for everyone. It is bloody, violent and dark. Yet I love it (but not for these reasons). This painting owes much of its inspiration to Caravaggio, who was the master of ‘chiaroscuro’. This technique is when the use of light and shadow strongly contrast in order to create a more dramatic scene (I love this technique). The painting depicts the moment when Judith, a young Jew, kills Holofernes, who is the general of the invading army. What also makes this painting incredible is that it was painted by a woman during a time when the field of art was dominated by men.
Adoration of the Magi, Leonardo da Vinci, 1482:
A piece of advice, save some of your energy because this important piece is at the end of the gallery. What makes this piece so important? It is unfinished. It was commissioned for the high altar of San Donato a Scopeto, but it was never completed due to da Vinci leaving for Milan. Thanks to a 6 year long restoration of the piece, we have the fortune to see, even more clearly than before, the charcoal sketches that the artist made. You can see the outlines of his figures and the scene and how much detail he included before applying paint. It offers us insight into da Vinci’s creative process, which in my opinion is an incredible privilege.
Art is powerful. Since the times of the cavemen, humans have expressed themselves through art. They have told their stories and left their mark for all future generations to see. What we have today is an incredible privilege. We have the ability to have a glimpse into past societies and past lives; in other words, we are able to experience time-travel. We may not have Hermione’s time-turner or the ability of that guy from the Time Traveller’s Wife, but we do have eyes. And our eyes have a power unlike any other when it comes to viewing art.
The next time you travel, I hope you will allow yourself to be immersed in the details of the past. Allow yourself to not rush from from one piece to another; rather, lose yourself before a single detail within a single masterpiece. Use the eyes in your head to have a full experience, rather than the eye of your camera. Don’t be surprised if something inside of you changes and you return home a new person.
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ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
ELIZABETH PANDZA
Hi, I’m Elizabeth! I was born and raised in Toronto, Canada (in a very Polish household, I might add). I grew up with a love for history, art, culture, and languages; a love that has made me desire to see every inch of this planet. When I’m not travelling or dreaming of travelling, I am usually painting, reading Harry Potter, watching Friends and the Office, or cuddling with my ginger cat/daughter Misia.