A portfolio of selected images from Florence.
Quite a number of these have not been posted elsewhere.
Some are part of Composite images, and some are larger versions
of images from the two earlier Florence pages. As this is a portfolio, the
images are a little larger than those on the Florence Gallery pages

Click an image to open the larger version.
Use your back button to return to this page.
Composites will open in a second window.

Arno Sunrise 4216

An intensely dramatic sunrise over the Arno River, and the start of a new day in the jewel of Tuscany.

Florentine Street 4309

One of the narrow medieval streets

Florentine Street Arch 3941

Florence has a large number of
archways which pierce buildings.

Basilica di San Lorenzo 5318

The High Altar of the Basilica di San Lorenzo. One of the largest churches in Florence, this was
the Medici’s parish church and is the burial place of the principal members of the family from
Cosimo Il Vecchio to Cosimo III. The buildings contain some important Renaissance architecture
by Brunelleschi, Michelangelo and Negetti. The architecture of the Old Sacristy in particular
(designed by Brunelleschi) revolutionized architectural design principles in the Renaissance.

Cupola Basilica di San Lorenzo 5206

The cupola of the small dome over the High Altar.
 

Corner Detail Basilica di San Lorenzo 5271

Superbly figured corner detailing by Brunelleschi
in the Old Sacristy (the oldest part of the building).

Tabernacle da Settignano 5289

Tabernacle da Settignano 5289 (detail)

Desiderio da Settignano’s Tabernacle of the
Sacraments. His work was strongly influenced by
Donatello in his use of low reliefs (see detail).

Canovai Madonna
Basilica di San Lorenzo 5201

Conti Crucifixion
Basilica di San Lorenzo 5197

Donatello Doors, Old Sacristy
Basilica di San Lorenzo 5263

One of the most important monuments of early
Renaissance architecture, the Old Sacristy was
designed by Brunelleschi and paid for by the
Medici family, many of whom are entombed
in it. It is a perfectly square room topped by a
series of arches and an umbrella-dome. All of
the decorative details were by Donatello.

St Christopher della Robbia Polychrome
Basilica di San Lorenzo 5166

Luca della Robbia developed a pottery glaze
that was very durable, allowing his creations
to be used outdoors. He was also a superbly
talented sculptor in bronze and marble, but is
best remembered for his terra cotta pieces
like the one shown here of St. Christopher.
 

Martyrdom of St Lawrence (detail)
Agnolo di Cosimo (Bronzino)
Basilica di San Lorenzo 5296

Agnolo di Cosimo (known as Il Bronzino) was the
court painter for Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici. His
work influenced European portrait technique
for over a century following his death.

Containing some amazingly contorted poses derived from his studies of
the styles of Raphael and Michelangelo, this is a superb example of
Bronzino’s skill in portraying nudes. It was one of his last works.

The shot shows detail of the central lower half of the fresco.

Donatello Pulpit
Basilica di San Lorenzo 5305

Donatello’s last work, these two bronze pulpits
were the scene of Savanarola’s fire and brimstone
sermons. The pulpits themselves are as dramatic
as Savanarola’s manic sermons must have been.
Savanarola carried out the Bonfire of the Vanities
which burned so many Renaissance artworks.

Donatello Pulpit
Basilica di San Lorenzo 5311

The work shows a intense yet carefree
technique and a partially finished surface.
These were very difficult shots. It was dark, so I
underexposed by a stop and still had 1/40 @ f/1.4
(shooting European churches is like shooting
inside of a cave... it’s very challenging).

Florentine Park Path 4437

Florence is a wonderful place to walk,
with so many parks scattered around.
Note the shape of the base of these
lamps, by the way. Very creative...

Fountain Piazza del Annunziata 4955

Speaking of creativity... this is the top of a fountain
by Pietro Tacca (Giambologna’s chief pupil).
Remember, this was 330 years before
‘The Creature from the Black Lagoon’.

Pieta Facade Sculpture 3987

One of many ornate reliefs found on palazzos
and other buildings around Florence, this one
shows a rather unusual sort of Pieta scene.

Medici Crest 4324

The Medici ducal crest with a bust of
Cosimo the Elder in it. Very elegant.
The Medici crest is all over the city.

Plaque da Vinci Workshop 4306

This humorous plaque is mounted to the wall
outside one of Leonardo da Vinci’s workshops
near the Duomo. Note the expression on the face
of the young subject (“Now relax... this won’t hurt”).

Just to be sure I don’t leave you with that thought...
the artist is working on a sculpture, he isn’t going
to brain his young assistant. I know you knew that.

Nun Duomo Door 4243

Perfect timing... all I wanted was a shot of the door
and then this accommodating nun walks by.

Florentine Duomo Bell Tower

A composite showing Giotto’s Campanile
(bell tower) and Brunelleschi’s Dome from
a window high up in the bell tower.

‘Twas a stormy day.

Brunelleschi 4294

Filippo Brunelleschi, the father of
Renaissance architecture. His statue
sits in a niche where he can stare up at the
 Dome which he created for Florence Cathedral.

Beheading of John the Baptist
Baptistry Vincenzo Danti 5965

Probably Danti’s most famous work,
this sculpture (produced in 1571) is
mounted high above the south doors
of the Florence Baptistry. The sun came
out for a moment to light the scene. Nice.

David Slays Goliath
Gates of Paradise 4206

Speaking of Baptistry doors offers a perfect
segue to bring up the subject of what is in my
opinion the premiere Renaissance Masterpiece:

The Gates of Paradise by Lorenzo Ghiberti
(shot late afternoon the day before the following series)

Story of Joseph
Gates of Paradise 4258

Born the son of a goldsmith and trained as one,
Lorenzo Ghiberti won the 1401 competition for
the first set of bronze doors for the Baptistry,
beating out Brunelleschi, who was second.
He had reinvented lost-wax casting as used
by the ancient Romans, so he had lots of
young artists flocking to his workshop. He
spent 21 years creating the 28-panel doors,
and when they were complete he was offered
a commission to produce another set of doors
with scenes from the Old Testament. Instead of
producing another set of 28 panels, he made a
much more naturalistic set of 10 scenes using a
completely different style. Michelangelo dubbed
these ”Gates of Paradise” and the name stuck.

Story of Isaac 4259

Those original doors were hailed as the most
important event in the history of Florentine art
in the first quarter of the 15th century (Paolucci).
Ghiberti was given numerous commissions by
influential patrons, including the Pope. In 1425,
he was offered a commission for the East Doors
of the Baptistry, and these (after 27 years of work)
were the ones dubbed the “Gates of Paradise” by
Michelangelo when he saw them. They employ the
principle of perspective and multi-level relief to
create a sense of space, and they are very lifelike.

Giorgio Vasari said a century later that these are
“undeniably perfect in every way and must rank
as the finest masterpiece ever created”.

I agree with Signor Vasari. Magnificent.

Lorenzo Ghiberti
(no linked image)

You can see this bust of Ghiberti at the
bottom right corner of image 4259, and
bottom left center of the next image, 4255.

Noah Isaac Abraham Joseph
Gates of Paradise 4255

One complete section of the door
showing the surrounding reliefs.

Absolutely amazing...

Florentine Gates of Paradise textblock

The image linked from the thumbnail to the left
is a 1200 x 1542 pixel version of the text block
for the composite below: “Gates of Paradise”.

If you want to be able to see what each image
in the composite is, you may want to click on
the composite below first, which will open in
a second window, then switch back to this
window and click on the text block at left.

This will give you two windows,
one with the 1500 pixel composite
and the other with the text block.

You can then switch back and forth
as necessary to see what each
image in the composite displays.

I did this because the text block
in the preview version composite
is too small to easily read.

Florentine Gates of Paradise SXXL

click for 1500 x 1262 version
SXXL version is available (6926 x 5829)
(a XXXL framed version is also available)

Florence Baptismal Font Pisano 5041

The interior of the Baptistry is very dark. Very.

This font was installed in 1658 to replace the
one from 1128 which was removed on orders of
the Grand Duke. It is older than its installation,
however, and the reliefs are attributed to
Andrea Pisano, who was responsible
for creating the oldest Baptistry doors.

Tomb Antipope John XXII Donatello 5024

This marble tomb was both the last tomb of a
Pope outside of Rome, and for a time it was
the tallest sculpture in Florence. Created by
Donatello, it entombed Baldassare Cossa,
who was viewed by Florence as the true Pope
during the Western Schism. This was the first
Renaissance monument to have a canopy.

Baptistry Ceiling detail 5018

Ceiling detail of the Florence Baptistry
showing part of the Mosaics.

These are two highly detailed files.
(this one is 625kb, the next is 750kb)

Baptistry Ceiling detail 5051

The Mosaics were created from 1225
until sometime in the 14th century. Cartoons
for the Mosaics were by Coppo di Marcovaldo.

Dante Alighieri 4508, Santa Croce 4519

Basilica di Santa Croce, known for the number of tombs, frescoes, and works of art.
Outside is this statue of Dante Alighieri, the poet who wrote ‘The Divine Comedy’ and who was
responsible for the development of the modern Italian language. Dante wrote the ‘Comedy’ while
exiled from Florence (political issues). He was not treated well by the Florentine Council, but they
regretted their treatment of him 500 years after his death and tried to recover his remains from
Ravenna, who refused, even hiding the bones. A cenotaph was built for him in Santa Croce (1829)
and his sentences were finally commuted in 2008. Dante died in 1321. Florence does move slowly...

Santa Croce interior 4656

Santa Croce is the largest Franciscan church
in the world and legend says that St. Francis
founded it himself. The interior contains the tombs
and cenotaphs of many illustrious Italians, incl.
Michelangelo, Donatello, Machiavelli, Ghiberti
Galileo, Fermi, Marconi, and a host of others.

Michelangelo Tomb 4607

created by Giorgio Vasari

Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet,
engineer... the archetypical Renaissance man.
The sheer volume and quality of his work is truly
astounding. He was the first Western artist whose
biography was published while he was alive.

Galileo Tomb 4605

created by Giovanni Battista Foggini

Galileo improved the telescope, made important astronomical observations... in fact he is called the
father of modern observational astronomy, as well as the father of modern physics, father of science,
and the father of modern science. He discovered the four largest moons of Jupiter (Galilean moons)
worked in applied science, improving the compass, and was an all-around amazing fellow.

Unfortunately, his support of Copernicus and the Heliocentric view of the Solar System was very
unpopular with the Catholic Church’s Inquisition. Galileo was forced to recant and spent the rest of
his life under house arrest. For hundreds of years the Catholic Church banned his writings, and even
stopped the Grand Duke from burying him in the main body of Santa Croce and erecting a monument.

As late as 1990, Cardinal Ratzinger concluded the verdict against Galileo was rational and just, but
in 1992 Pope John Paul II expressed regret over how the Church had handled the affair, conceding
that the Earth was not stationary (as a result of a Church study). The Church does move slowly...

Machiavelli Cenotaph 4620

Ceiling Detail Santa Croce 4694

Ceiling Fresco da Milano Santa Croce 4667

This ceiling is in the Rinuccini chapel. The Rinuccini Chapel is interesting as it has been
very well preserved in nearly the same condition it was in during the 14th century, with the
same furnishings. The frescoes are also in superb condition, and allow the viewer to visualize
what the Basilica must have looked like in the 14th century, when it was covered with paintings.

Giotto Death and Ascension of St Francis
Santa Croce 4569

This fresco, by Giotto in 1325, was painted
over in the 18th century, rediscovered in the 19th
and reworked. They were restored recently, the
reworked areas were removed, and the ruined
parts were sealed with plaster (thus the gaps).

Giotto Death and Ascension of St Francis
Santa Croce 4567 (detail)

This detail crop and the previous shot were
very difficult, this shot requiring 1/10s @ f/1.4,
the previous shot requiring forced underexposure
by one stop to get 1/20s. The fresco was worth it.

Giotto Baroncelli Polyptych 4719

The Baroncelli family commissioned this altar
in 1327. The five panels are composed as a
single space. The central scene is the Virgin Mary
being crowned the Queen of Heaven. The wings
show a crowd of angels and saints watching.
Every face in the crowd shows individuality.

Not long after completing this piece, Giotto was
appointed Master Builder of the Cathedral by the
city of Florence and began work on the Campanile.

Giotto Baroncelli Polyptych 4719 (detail)

Giorgio Vasari said of Giotto:
“... he brought to life the great art of painting as
we know it today, introducing the technique of
drawing accurately from life, which had been
neglected for more than two hundred years."

He was a pupil of Cimabue, and was the first
post-Classical artist whose fame extended
beyond his own lifetime and native city.

Campanile 5963

A view from the side courtyard of the Duomo. More
photos of the Duomo and Campanile are on the
Composite and Art and Architecture pages.

Giotto’s Campanile
(Bell Tower, Florence Cathedral)

The Bell Tower was designed by Giotto to
match the polychromic character of the Cathedral
designed by Arnolfo di Cambio, and is a masterly
display of his architectural skills. A showpiece of
Florentine Gothic Renaissance architecture, it is
covered with colored marble in geometric designs
that make it appear painted. Giotto completed the
lower floor with its external marble before he died.

The hexagonal panels on the lower level depict
the history of mankind (inspired by Genesis). The
lozenges on the 2nd level show the Planets, the
Virtues, the Liberal Arts and the Sacraments. The
3rd level has four statues in niches on each side.
The Gothic statues on the West were created by
Andrea Pisano in 1343, those on the South were created by Maso di Banco between 1334-41 and
are more Classical in style. Those on the East
were added between 1408-21 by Donatello and
Nanni di Bartolo. Statues on the North were made
 between 1420-35 (Donatello and Nanni di Bartolo)
and include Habacuc, a Donatello masterpiece.

Gaddi Last Supper Tree of Life 4723

Considered Gaddi’s best work, this fresco
in the refectory was painted in 1335.
 

Gaddi Tree of Life (detail) 4723

a large clip of the central panel called
“Allegory of the Cross”

Taddeo Gaddi Crucifixion
Santa Croce 4659

Taddeo Gaddi was Giotto’s primary pupil, and painted several important works in Santa Croce.
He created frescos in the Baroncelli chapel, the Last Supper and Tree of Life in the Refectory, and
this Crucifixion and Resurrection in the Sacristy. He built the Ponte Vecchio and continued Giotto’s
work on the Florence Campanile after Giotto died. He was one of the few artists whose name was
remembered 200 years after he died, and he was one of the best of the pre-Renaissance artists.

Taddeo Gaddi Crucifixion Santa Croce 4663 (lower)

This is a large (1554 x 850) detail crop of the lower three sections
— It will open in a new window —

I guess you can probably tell that even though the Last Supper fresco is considered Gaddi’s
best work, I like this one better. The reason I’m putting up a large detail crop is that there is
almost nothing available on the web regarding this work, and I’m trying to rectify that omission.
(it required hours of research to determine who painted it, the title, and when it was painted).

This image is available as an XL signed image (3108 x 1650)

Donatello Annunciation 4624

Donatello’s Annunciation relief (1435).
Made in gilded Pietra Serena (grey sandstone)
for the Cavalcanti chapel altar in Santa Croce.
(now mounted in a recess on the south wall)

Donatello Annunciation 4624 (detail)

This was one of his first works after his return from
several years in Rome, and it shows a Classical
influence. During this period he concentrated on
recovering the beauty of the ancient sculptures.

Altar with Crucifix
Santa Croce 4588, 4627

The Polyptych with Madonna and Saints is
by Niccolo di Pietro Gerini, and the Crucifix
is by the School of Giotto (see detail, right)

Crucifix School of Giotto 4595

This image also shows more of the frescos
surrounding the altar. The crucifix is similar
in design to several which were created by
Giotto between 1290 and 1330... research
I have done all ascribes this Crucifix to the
School of Giotto, but I have no solid details.

Florence Nightingale 4733

The monument to Florence Nightingale in the courtyard of Basilica di Santa Croce.

Hercules Nessus Giambologna 4127

Jean Boulogne (known as Giambologna) was a
very influential sculptor and architect who settled in
Florence in the mid-1500s and became the court
sculptor to the Medici. He had a superb ability to
portray the motion of his subjects, as is shown
well in this dramatic sculpture in the Loggia
dei Lanzi, Piazza Signoria (next to the Uffizi).

Hercules Nessus Uffizi 4739, 4746

Another sculpture portraying the same subject,
this one in a corridor of the Uffizi Gallery. Caccini
portrayed a more restrained pose, with a less
intense sense of action, more as if this was a
wrestling match rather than a duel to the death.

Trajan Uffizi 4756

Caligula Claudius Uffizi 4750, 4752

Fabriano Magi Uffizi 4764

This is the most famous and best work of Gentile da Fabriano, commissioned by Palla Strozzi
on the arrival of da Fabriano in Florence in 1420. It required three years to complete, and was
installed in the chapel of Santa Trinita.  It portrays the path of the three Magi in several scenes starting
in the upper left corner and continuing clockwise. The people are dressed in Renaissance costume,
with real gold and jewels inlaid into the panels. The frame is a masterpiece, with several small paintings.

Palazzo Vecchio

The Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace) is the town hall of Florence. With the tower and crenellations it looks more like a castle or fortress than a town hall, and that was the intention of the builder, Arnolfo di Cambio (builder of the Cathedral as well as Santa Croce)... he wanted to provide a strong protective structure for the town leaders in case of trouble, which happened often enough. This is a view of Arnolfo’s Tower, taken from the side of the Uffizi Gallery late in the afternoon. It shows the embrasures from which boiling oil or rocks could be dropped on attackers (the walls also had crenellations and embrasures mounted).

We’ll start in the largest room: the Salone dei Cinquecento (Hall of 500). It was built to house the Grand Council, which had 500 members. It was enlarged by Giorgio Vasari so that Grand Duke Cosimo I Medici could hold court there, but unfortunately this destroyed the unfinished ‘Battle of Cascina’ by Michelangelo and ‘Battle of Anghari’ by Leonardo da Vinci. The walls were eventually covered by Vasari’s own frescoes depicting battles and military victories by Florence:

shown at right
Palazzo Vecchio model 5597
(click for larger version)
 

Vasari Frescoes Palazzo Vecchio

These are the Vasari Frescoes outlined above.

This image is available as an
XXL Signed Composite (5878 x 3350)
and SXXL framed (7077  x 4426)

click here for more information on Portfolio images

Leo X Hall of 500 Palazzo Vecchio 5372

On the raised stage (Udienza) created by
Bartolommeo Bandinelli where Duke Cosimo I
received citizens and ambassadors, are several
niches he built with sculptures. The major works
include this piece “Leo X” (the Medici Pope) and
the next image “Clement VII crowning Charles V”.

Ceiling Panel Hall of 500
Palazzo Vecchio 5362

There are 39 of these panels on the ceiling,
created by Giorgio Vasari and assistants,
depicting Great Episodes from the Life of
Cosimo I, and scenes of Florence.

Clement VII Crowning Charles V
Hall of 500 5378

Bartolommeo Bandinelli was the sculptor and
painter who trained Giorgio Vasari. He created
a number of sculptures, incl. these two and the
large sculpture of Hercules and Cacus in Piazza
della Signoria. He created the copy of Laocoon
in the Ufizzi Gallery and a large number of other
works, but he never was able to achieve
his goal of equality with Michelangelo.

Corner Detail Palazzo Vecchio 5404

Vasari Earth Palazzo Vecchio 5444

The Apartment of the Elements consists of five
rooms that were the private quarters of Cosimo I.
The walls contain allegorical frescoes depicting
Fire, Water, Earth and (on the ceiling) Saturn.

Vasari Water Palazzo Vecchio 5439

Giorgio Vasari took over the decoration of these
rooms upon the death of Battista del Tasso. This
was his first commission for the Medici, beginning
a long and very profitable relationship. These two
frescoes are part of the allegorical paintings in the
Apartment of the Elements: Earth and Water.

I’m putting these images together in the order
they were shot, as if you were visiting Palazzo
Vecchio. It also helps keep track of the rooms.

Putto with Dolphin
del Verocchio 5467, 5473

This is the original of Putto with Dolphin by
Andrea del Verocchio, a sculpture in the round
(able to be viewed from all sides), installed at
the Medici Villa in Careggi. del Verocchio is
ranked second only to Donatello of the early
Renaissance sculptors in Italy, and produced
most of his important works in the last 20 years
of his life. His prominence was due primarily to
Medici patronage, which he achieved only after
the death of Donatello in 1466. del Verocchio’s
most famous students were Leonardo da Vinci
and Perugino (who trained Raphael).

Vases Apartment of the Elements
Palazzo Vecchio 5488, 5491

These vases are mounted in facing corners
of the room with a terrace overlooking Florence.
There is a highly detailed ceiling fresco of Saturn.

David Piazza Michelangelo 4424

From the terrace, you can see Pza. Michelangelo
(containing this bronze copy of David, taken from
the Piazza itself two days previous to this shoot).

Ceiling Hercules Room
Palazzo Vecchio 5463

Ceiling panel Palazzo Vecchio 5483

Fresco Pieta Palazzo Vecchio 5526

Cabinet Palazzo Vecchio 5532

del Ghirlandio Sala Verde
Palazzo Vecchio 5531

This amazing ceiling fresco is over your head
directly above the entry to the Sala Verde. It
is stunning in person. Ridolfo del Ghirlandio
truly outdid himself with this magnificent ceiling.

Ceiling Detail Sabine Women
Palazzo Vecchio 5537

At one time this room was used by ladies in waiting
at the court of Eleanora di Toledo. The room is
named for the ceiling decorations, which like this
are showing scenes from the Tale of the Sabines.
Painted by Giovanni Stradano (Flemish).

Medici Bust Dining Room
Palazzo Vecchio 5543

Penelope at the Loom
Palazzo Vecchio 5544

Fresco Chapel Signoria
Palazzo Vecchio 5564

This fresco is o