It is only known that the architect officially commissioned by the company was Luca Fancelli, according to some pupils of Brunelleschi. 167 × 143 cm. [29] In spite of its metamorphosis from royal residence to a state-owned public building, the palazzo, sitting on its elevated site overlooking Florence, still retains the air and atmosphere of a private collection in a grand house. These highly ornate ceilings with frescoes and elaborate stucco work essentially celebrate the Medici lineage and the bestowal of virtuous leadership. His architect, Giorgio Vasari, continued in the style of the existing palace, expanding the structure and connecting it to the Palazzo Vecchio. Modern Art Gallery: a magnificent collection of paintings and sculptures, mainly of Italian artists that goes from the 18th century until the World War I. 90 × 62 cm. Renaissance palace and museum in Florence, Italy, L.H. The palace was expanded multiple times the following centuries, 11. In fact, his private bathroom in the Palatine Gallery is on display. Some of the exhibits are unique to the Palazzo Pitti; these include the 16th-century funeral clothes of Grand Duke Cosimo I de' Medici, and his wife Eleonora of Toledo and their son Garzia, both of whom died of malaria. Palazzo Pitti was the main residence for Florence s rulers for many years. Raised at the luxurious court of Naples, Eleonora was the wife of Cosimo I de' Medici of Tuscany, later the Grand Duke. Additionally, Vasari nearly doubled the size of the palace with a large addition to the rear of the palace. The Vasari Corridor or Corridor of Vasari is a passage that extends over the streets in the heart of the city. According to the official version, Luca Fancelli, a collaborator of Brunelleschi, was actually the architect of the Palazzo Pitti. Pitti bought all the houses between his new palace and the footpath of the hill to construct the Boboli Gardens or in Italian Giardino di Boboli. One of the most fascinating facts about the Palazzo Pitti is that the man who originally commissioned most probably never imagined it would ever become the property of the family of his friend, the Medici’s. That’s because Cosimo had died in the year 1464 which put a serious strain on his finances. By closing this banner, scrolling this page or by clicking any of its elements you consent the use of cookies. "The Parterre of fiction, poetry, history [&c.]". The Pitti Palace houses many museums and galleries: the Palatine Gallery and the Royal Apartments, the Modern Art Gallery, the Costumes Gallery, the Silver Museum, the Porcelain Museum and the Boboli Gardens (a true Outdoor museum). © copyright 2003-2020 Study.com. Last admission: 5:30 pm, Closing: on Monday, Jan 1st , May 1st , Dec. 25th, Opening hours: This effectively made the palace property of the Medici family.Eleanora di Toledo / Wiki Commons. Eleonora didn’t just focus on expanding the palace, she also bought a huge piece of land beside the palace and commissioned the construction of a massive landscaped garden. Two wings were added on each side in the 18th century which created the courtyard or “cour d’honneur.”, Grandukes Treasury (originally the Silver Museum). Pieter Paul RubensThe Four Philiosophers. When buying the entrance ticket to the Palatine Gallery, it is also possible to visit the Modern Art Gallery, the Costumes Gallery and the Silver Museum. The palace derived its present name with the shifting of the Medici duke’s residence to the Palazzo Pitti when Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici renamed his former palace. It has some influences of Ancient Roman architecture, 6. Well, that’s exactly what happened a century later! Since the palaces are located on opposite banks of the River Arno, the Vasari Corridor actually runs on top of the Ponte Vecchio to cross the river!The Vasari corridor on its way to the Pitti Palace on top of the Ponte Vecchio / Wiki Commons. A theory also insinuates that Pitti used for his monumental property a project originally created by the famous architect for Palazzo Medici and trashed by the hated Cosimo the Elder because it was considered too magnificent. imaginable degree, area of On the terrace above it, level with the piano nobile windows, Ammanati constructed a fountain centered on the axis; it was later replaced by the Fontana del Carciofo ("Fountain of the Artichoke"), designed by Giambologna's former assistant, Francesco Susini, and completed in 1641. In addition, here are the Boboli Gardens with its wonderful Italian style. RaphaelMadonna of the Canopy. Following the Risorgimento and the expulsion of the Grand Ducal family from the palazzo, all the Grand Ducal modern art works were brought together under one roof in the newly titled "Modern gallery of the Academy". The street façade was expanded with 3 bays in the early 17th century. Your email address will not be published. [18] In contrast to the great salons containing the Palatine collection, some of these rooms are much smaller and more intimate, and, while still grand and gilded, are more suited to day-to-day living requirements. In addition, here are the Boboli Gardens with its wonderful Italian style. 239 × 199 cm. The palace was named after the man who built it, 3. It was built for Luca Pitti who was determined to outshine the Medici family and in 1457 Bruneleschi was commissioned to expand the mansion into this grand Palace. They were to inspire the later Planet Rooms at Louis XIV's Versailles, designed by Le Brun. Of particular note are several large dinner services by the Vincennes factory, later renamed Sèvres, and a collection of small biscuit figurines.