The Bargello, also known as the or ("Palace of the People"), is a former public building and police headquarters, later a prison, in

Florence Florence ( ; ) is the capital city of the Italy, Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 362,353 inhabitants, and 989,460 in Metropolitan City of Florence, its metropolitan province as of 2025. Florence ...

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

. Mostly built in the 13th century, since 1865 it has housed the , a national art museum. It is the primary national collection for

Italian Renaissance sculpture Italian Renaissance sculpture was an important part of the art of the Italian Renaissance, in the early stages arguably representing the leading edge. The example of Ancient Roman sculpture hung very heavily over it, both in terms of style and t ...

, of which its collection of Florentine works is unequalled, and for the decorative arts of Florence, especially from the Renaissance period. There are also works from earlier and later periods. The medieval building is relatively well preserved, and includes the ''Cappella della Maddalena'' (Magdalen Chapel) with extensive but damaged

fresco Fresco ( or frescoes) is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaster, the painting become ...

s by

Giotto Giotto di Bondone (; – January 8, 1337), known mononymously as Giotto, was an List of Italian painters, Italian painter and architect from Florence during the Late Middle Ages. He worked during the International Gothic, Gothic and Italian Ren ...

, including a full-length portrait of

Dante Dante Alighieri (; most likely baptized Durante di Alighiero degli Alighieri; – September 14, 1321), widely known mononymously as Dante, was an Italian Italian poetry, poet, writer, and philosopher. His ''Divine Comedy'', originally called ...

. In 2023 it was the 12th most visited museum in Italy, with 610,203 visitors; it generally lacks the long queues to enter the

Uffizi The Uffizi Gallery ( ; , ) is a prominent art museum adjacent to the Piazza della Signoria in the Historic Centre of Florence in the region of Tuscany, Italy. One of the most important Italian museums and the most visited, it is also one of th ...

Name

The word ''bargello'' appears to come from the late

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

''bargillus'' (from

Gothic Gothic or Gothics may refer to: People and languages *Goths or Gothic people, a Germanic people **Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths **Gothic alphabet, an alphabet used to write the Gothic language ** Gothic ( ...

''bargi'' and German ''burg''), meaning "castle" or "fortified tower". During the Italian

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

it was the name given to a military captain in charge of keeping peace and justice (hence "Captain of justice") during riots and uproars. In Florence he was usually hired from a foreign city to prevent any appearance of favoritism on the part of the Captain. The position could be compared with that of a current Chief of police. The name Bargello was extended to the building which was the office of the captain.

History

Construction began in 1255. The palace was built to house first the

Capitano del Popolo Captain of the people () was an administrative title used in Italy during the Middle Ages, established essentially to balance the power and authority of the noble families of the Italian city-states.Najemy, John M. 2006. ''A History of Florence 1 ...

and later, in 1261, the '

podestà (), also potestate or podesta in English, was the name given to the holder of the highest civil office in the government of the cities of central and northern Italy during the Late Middle Ages. Sometimes, it meant the chief magistrate of a c ...

', the highest magistrate of the Florence

City Council A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, borough counc ...

. This Palazzo del Podestà, as it was originally called, is the oldest public building in Florence. This austere

crenellated A battlement, in defensive architecture, such as that of city walls or castles, comprises a parapet (a defensive low wall between chest-height and head-height), in which gaps or indentations, which are often rectangular, occur at intervals ...

building served as model for the construction of the

Palazzo Vecchio The ( "Old Palace") is the town hall of Florence, Italy. It overlooks the , which holds a copy of Michelangelo's ''David'' statue, and the gallery of statues in the adjacent Loggia dei Lanzi. Originally called the ''Palazzo della Signoria'', a ...

. In 1574, the

Medici The House of Medici ( , ; ) was an Italian banking family and political dynasty that first consolidated power in the Republic of Florence under Cosimo de' Medici and his grandson Lorenzo "the Magnificent" during the first half of the 15th ...

dispensed with the function of the ''Podestà'' and housed the ''bargello'', the police chief of Florence, in this building, hence its name. In 1479

Bernardo Bandini Baroncelli Bernardo Bandini Baroncelli (15 January 1420 – 29 December 1479) was a Florentine merchant and a protagonist in the Pazzi conspiracy, a plot to remove the Medici family from power in Florence. Life Bandini dei Baroncelli was born in Flore ...

, one of the movers of the

Pazzi conspiracy The Pazzi conspiracy () was a failed plot by members of the Pazzi family and others to displace the Medici family as rulers of Renaissance Florence. On 26 April 1478 there was an attempt to assassinate Lorenzo de' Medici and his brother ...

against the

Medici family The House of Medici ( , ; ) was an Italian banking family and political dynasty that first consolidated power in the Republic of Florence under Cosimo de' Medici and his grandson Lorenzo "the Magnificent" during the first half of the 15th ...

was hanged from the building, an event witnessed and sketched by

Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (15 April 1452 - 2 May 1519) was an Italian polymath of the High Renaissance who was active as a painter, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect. While his fame initially rested o ...

. It was employed as a prison; executions took place in the Bargello's courtyard until they were abolished by Grand Duke

Peter Leopold Leopold II (Peter Leopold Josef Anton Joachim Pius Gotthard; 5 May 1747 – 1 March 1792) was the penultimate Holy Roman Emperor, as well as King of Hungary, Croatia and Bohemia, and Archduke of Austria from 1790 to 1792, and Grand Duke of Tusca ...

in 1786, but it remained the headquarters of the Florentine police until 1859. After an interval, it then became a national museum. The original two-storey structure was built alongside the Volognana Tower in 1256. The third storey, which can be identified by the smaller blocks used to construct it, was added after the fire of 1323. The building is designed around an open courtyard dating from 1280-1285. An external staircase leading to the second floor was added between 1345-1367 under master builder Neri di Fioravante. An open well is found in the centre of the courtyard. After centuries of modifications to its architecture, the building was restored to its original form between 1858 and 1865. The Bargello opened as a national museum (''Museo Nazionale del Bargello'') in 1865, displaying the largest Italian collection of

and Renaissance sculptures (14–17th century). Administratively, the museum heads a group, the ''Musei del Bargello'', with four smaller museums in Florence: the

Medici Chapels The Medici Chapels () are two chapels built between the 16th and 17th centuries as an extension to the Basilica of San Lorenzo, in the Italian city of Florence. They are the Sagrestia Nuova ('New Sacristy'), designed by Michelangelo, and the lar ...

Orsanmichele Orsanmichele or Orsammichele (; from the Tuscan contraction of ''Orto di San Michele'', "Kitchen Garden of St. Michael") is a church in the Italian city of Florence. The building was constructed on the site of the kitchen garden of the monaster ...

Palazzo Davanzati Palazzo Davanzati is a palace in Florence, Italy. It houses the Museum of the Old Florentine House. History Palazzo Davanzati was erected in the second half of the 14th century by the Davizzi family, who were wealthy members of the wool guild. In ...

, and

Casa Martelli The Palazzo Martelli was a residential palace, and since 2009, a civic museum displaying in situ the remains of the original family's valuable art collection, as well as its frescoed rooms. The palace is located on Via Ferdinando Zannetti 8 near t ...

. Image:Il Bargello.jpg, Exterior File:Palazzo del bargello visto da piazza san firenze.JPG, another view File:03 2015 Cortile-scalone-loggia-stemmi-bifora-volte a crocera, finestre polilobate cuspidate-ordine corinzio-pilastri ottagonali-leone-Museo nazionale del Bargello (Firenze) Photo Paolo Villa FOTO9234bisimg 0001.jpg, Stairs and inner courtyard File:Firenze - Museo nazionale del Bargello - 2024-09-29 15-13-25 001.JPG, Courtyard Image:Bargello Courtyard 2007.jpg, Inner courtyard File:Bargello, lato via ghibellina 01.JPG, Rear, on via ghibellina

Collection

Sculpture

There is a good selection of medieval sculpture. The museum has both the

modelli A modello (plural modelli), from Italian, is a preparatory study or model, usually at a smaller scale, for a work of art or architecture, especially one produced for the approval of the commissioning patron. The term gained currency in art circl ...

of the finalists' designs for ''The Sacrifice of Isaac'' (''Sacrificio di Isacco''), for the contest for the second set of doors of the

Florence Baptistery The Florence Baptistery, also known as the Baptistery of Saint John (), is a religious building in Florence, Italy. Dedicated to the patron saint of the city, John the Baptist, it has been a focus of religious, civic, and artistic life since its ...

in 1401. That by

Lorenzo Ghiberti Lorenzo Ghiberti (, , ; 1378 – 1 December 1455), born Lorenzo di Bartolo, was an Italian Renaissance sculptor from Florence, a key figure in the Early Renaissance, best known as the creator of two sets of bronze doors of the Florence Baptister ...

won, with

Filippo Brunelleschi Filippo di ser Brunellesco di Lippo Lapi (1377 – 15 April 1446), commonly known as Filippo Brunelleschi ( ; ) and also nicknamed Pippo by Leon Battista Alberti, was an Italian architect, designer, goldsmith and sculptor. He is considered to ...

's the runner-up. The most famous sculptures are several by both Michelangelo and Donatello. Large sculptures by

Michelangelo Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (6March 147518February 1564), known mononymously as Michelangelo, was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet of the High Renaissance. Born in the Republic of Florence, his work was inspir ...

are his ''Bacchus'', ''

Pitti Tondo The ''Pitti Tondo'' ( Tondo Pitti) is an unfinished marble relief of the Virgin and Child by Michelangelo in round or tondo form. It was executed between 1503 and 1504 while he was residing in Florence and is now in the Museo nazionale del Bar ...

'' (a

Madonna and Child In Christian art, a Madonna () is a religious depiction of the Blessed Virgin Mary in a singular form or sometimes accompanied by the Child Jesus. These images are central icons for both the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. The word ...

), ''

Brutus Marcus Junius Brutus (; ; 85 BC – 23 October 42 BC) was a Roman politician, orator, and the most famous of the assassins of Julius Caesar. After being adopted by a relative, he used the name Quintus Servilius Caepio Brutus, which was reta ...

'' and '' David-Apollo''. A wood ''Crucifix'' attributed to his early years was acquired in 2008. Its collection includes both

Donatello Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi ( – 13 December 1466), known mononymously as Donatello (; ), was an Italian Renaissance sculpture, Italian sculptor of the Renaissance period. Born in Republic of Florence, Florence, he studied classical sc ...

's ''

bronze Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper, commonly with about 12–12.5% tin and often with the addition of other metals (including aluminium, manganese, nickel, or zinc) and sometimes non-metals (such as phosphorus) or metalloid ...

'' and marble statues of ''David'', as well as his ''

Amore-Attis ''Amor-Attis'' (''Cupid-Attis'', or ''Atys-Amor'' and other variations) is a bronze sculpture by Donatello of c. 1440–1443. It is 104 cm high and has traces of its original gilding, and is now in the Museo del Bargello in Florence. With ...

'', ''

Saint George Saint George (;Geʽez: ጊዮርጊስ, , ka, გიორგი, , , died 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, was an early Christian martyr who is venerated as a saint in Christianity. According to holy tradition, he was a soldier in the ...

'', with its

relief Relief is a sculpture, sculptural method in which the sculpted pieces remain attached to a solid background of the same material. The term ''wikt:relief, relief'' is from the Latin verb , to raise (). To create a sculpture in relief is to give ...

for the base of ''

Saint George Freeing the Princess ''Saint George Freeing the Princess'' is a marble stiacciato bas-relief sculpture by Donatello, sculpted around 1416 or 1417. It was originally situated under the same artist's ''Saint George'' on an external niche of the church of Orsanmichele i ...

'', and his heraldic ''

Marzocco The ''Marzocco'' is the lion (heraldry), heraldic lion that is a symbol of Florence, and was apparently the first piece of public secular sculpture commissioned by the Republic of Florence, in the late 14th century. The lion stood at the hea ...

''. Other sculptures include

Jacopo Sansovino Jacopo d'Antonio Sansovino (2 July 1486 – 27 November 1570) was an Italian Renaissance sculptor and architect, best known for his works around the Piazza San Marco in Venice. These are crucial works in the history of Venetian Renaissance arc ...

's ''

Bacchus In ancient Greek religion and myth, Dionysus (; ) is the god of wine-making, orchards and fruit, vegetation, fertility, festivity, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, and theatre. He was also known as Bacchus ( or ; ) by the Gre ...

'', the ''

David David (; , "beloved one") was a king of ancient Israel and Judah and the third king of the United Monarchy, according to the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament. The Tel Dan stele, an Aramaic-inscribed stone erected by a king of Aram-Dam ...

'' and ''

Dama col mazzolino ''Woman with Flowers'' ( or ) is a marble sculpture in height executed by Andrea del Verrocchio between 1475 and 1480. It is in the Bargello Museum in Florence. The sculpture stands out for being a bust of an almost half-length figure with ful ...

'' by

Andrea del Verrocchio Andrea del Verrocchio ( , , ; born Andrea di Michele di Francesco de' Cioni; – 1488) was an Italian sculpture, sculptor, List of Italian painters, painter and goldsmith who was a master of an important workshop in Florence. He apparently bec ...

. Other works of sculpture include several by the

Della Robbia Della Robbia is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Luca della Robbia (1400–1481), Italian sculptor * Andrea della Robbia (1435–1525), Italian sculptor, nephew of Luca * Giovanni della Robbia (1469–1529), son of Andrea * Gir ...

family workshop. and by

Antonio Rossellino Antonio Gamberelli (1427–1479), Janson, H.W. (1995) ''History of Art''. 5th edn. Revised and expanded by Anthony F. Janson. London: Thames & Hudson, p. 465. nicknamed Antonio Rossellino for the colour of his hair, was an Italian Renaissance ...

Bartolomeo Ammannati Bartolomeo Ammannati (18 June 1511 – 13 April 1592) was an Italian architect and sculptor, born at Settignano, near Florence, Italy. He studied under Baccio Bandinelli and Jacopo Sansovino (assisting on the design of the Library of St. Mark ...

Bertoldo di Giovanni Bertoldo di Giovanni (after 1420, in Poggio a Caiano – 28 December 1491, in Florence) was an Italian Renaissance sculptor and medallist. Most of his sculptures, as opposed to medals, were small bronzes for the Medici, of the sort Giambologna p ...

Baccio Bandinelli Baccio Bandinelli (also called Bartolomeo Brandini; 12 November 1493 – shortly before 7 February 1560), was an Italian Renaissance sculptor, draughtsman, and painter. Biography Bandinelli was the son of a prominent Florentine goldsmith, ...

, and most other Florentine masters of the period.

Benvenuto Cellini Benvenuto Cellini (, ; 3 November 150013 February 1571) was an Italian goldsmith, sculptor, and author. His best-known extant works include the ''Cellini Salt Cellar'', the sculpture of ''Perseus with the Head of Medusa'', and his autobiography ...

is represented by his bronze bust of Cosimo I. The final phase of the Renaissance is represented by

Giambologna Giambologna (1529 – 13 August 1608), also known as Jean de Boulogne (French), Jehan Boulongne (Flemish) and Giovanni da Bologna (Italian), was the last significant Italian Renaissance sculptor, with a large workshop producing large and small ...

's marble '' Florence Triumphant over Pisa'', ''Architecture'', ''The Dwarf Morgante Riding a Sea Monster'', and his ''Mercury''. The courtyard and the arcades around it have been used to display numerous reliefs and other works. There are a few works from the Baroque period, notably

Gianlorenzo Bernini Gian Lorenzo (or Gianlorenzo) Bernini (, ; ; Italian Giovanni Lorenzo; 7 December 1598 – 28 November 1680) was an Italian sculptor and architect. While a major figure in the world of architecture, he was more prominently the leading sculptor ...

's 1636-7 ''

Bust of Costanza Bonarelli The ''Bust of Costanza Bonarelli'' is a marble sculpture created by Gian Lorenzo Bernini during the 1630's. The piece is now in the Bargello, Museo Nazionale del Bargello in Florence, Italy. Considered among the most personal of Bernini's works, ...

''.

Vincenzo Gemito Vincenzo Gemito (July 16, 1852 – March 1, 1929) was an Italian sculptor and artist. Although he worked in various studios of well-known artists in his native Naples, Rome and Paris, he is considered to have largely been self-taught, the reason ...

's ''Pescatore'' ("fisherboy"), is a popular 19th-century sculpture. ;Sculpture (large) Tino di camaino, cariatide allegorica, 1318-19.jpg, ''Allegorical

Caryatid A caryatid ( ; ; ) is a sculpted female figure serving as an architectural support taking the place of a column or a pillar supporting an entablature on her head. The Greek term ''karyatides'' literally means "maidens of Karyai", an ancient t ...

,''

Tino di Camaino 300px, Tomb of Antonio d'Orso, in Florence.html" ;"title="Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence">Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence. Tino di Camaino (c. 1280 – c. 1337) was an Italian sculptor. Biography Born in Siena, the son of architect Camain ...

, 1318/19 Madonna, Umbrien, 14. Jht., Bargello Florenz-01.jpg, ''Madonna Enthroned,''

Umbria Umbria ( ; ) is a Regions of Italy, region of central Italy. It includes Lake Trasimeno and Cascata delle Marmore, Marmore Falls, and is crossed by the Tiber. It is the only landlocked region on the Italian Peninsula, Apennine Peninsula. The re ...

, 14th ct. Firenze Museo del Bargello Interno Collezione Sala Bruzzichelli.jpg, Umbrian ''

Virgin of Mercy The Virgin of Mercy is a subject in Christian art, showing a group of people sheltering for protection under the outspread cloak, or pallium, of the Virgin Mary. It was especially popular in Italy from the 13th to 16th centuries, often as a spec ...

'' (15. ct.) in the Bruzzichelli Hall Michele da firenze, madonna col bambino, 1420-50 ca.jpg, ''Virgin and Child,'' Michele da Firenze, 1420–50 Luca della Robbia, Madonna of the Rosebush, 1450-60, Bargello, Florence.jpg,

Luca della Robbia Luca della Robbia (, also , ; 1399/1400–1482) was an Italian Renaissance sculptor from Florence. Della Robbia is noted for his colorful, tin-glazed terracotta statuary, a technique that he invented and passed on to his nephew Andrea della R ...

, ''Madonna of the Rosebush,'' 1450–60 File:Andrea della robbia, ritratto di gentildonna, 1465-70.jpg,

Andrea della Robbia Andrea della Robbia (20 October 14354 August 1525) was an Italian Renaissance sculptor, especially in ceramics. Biography Born in Florence, Robbia was the son of Marco della Robbia, whose brother, Luca della Robbia, popularized the use of g ...

, ''Portrait of a Womman,'' 1465–70 File:Desiderio da Settignano, portrait bust of Niccolò Uzzano, painted terracotta, c1450, Bargello, Florence.jpg, Niccolo da Uzzano, probably by

Desiderio da Settignano Desiderio da Settignano, real name Desiderio de Bartolomeo di Francesco detto Ferro ( 1428 or 1430 – 1464) was an Italian Renaissance sculptor active in north Italy. Biography He came from a family of stone carvers and stonemasons in Settigna ...

(not

as once thought), painted

terracotta Terracotta, also known as terra cotta or terra-cotta (; ; ), is a clay-based non-vitreous ceramic OED, "Terracotta""Terracotta" MFA Boston, "Cameo" database fired at relatively low temperatures. It is therefore a term used for earthenware obj ...

, c. 1450 Benedetto da maiano, ritratto di pietro mellini, 1474 ca. 01.jpg, ''Bust of Pietro Melllini'' by

Benedetto da Maiano Benedetto da Maiano (1442 – 24 May 1497) was an Italian Early Renaissance sculptor. Biography Born in the village of Maiano (now part of Fiesole), he started his career as a companion of his brother, the architect Giuliano da Maiano. When ...

, 1474 File:Florence - David by Donatello.jpg, The bronze ''

'' by Donatello (1440s) File:Antonio del pollaiolo, ercole e anteo, 01.JPG,

Antonio del Pollaiolo Antonio del Pollaiuolo ( , , ; 17 January 1429/14334 February 1498), also known as Antonio di Jacopo Pollaiuolo or Antonio Pollaiuolo (also spelled Pollaiolo), was an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, engraver, and goldsmith, who made i ...

, ''Hercules and Antaeus'', c. 1478 File:Michelangelo, tondo pitti.jpg,

's ''

,'' 1503/04 File:Michelangelo Bacchus.jpg, ''Bacchus'', Michelangelo File:Giovan francesco rustici, zuffa di cavalieri, 1505 ca. 02.jpg, ''

Battle of Anghiari The Battle of Anghiari was fought on 29 June 1440, between the forces of Milan and the League of some Italian states led by the Republic of Florence in the course of the Wars in Lombardy. The battle was a victory for the Florentines, who secu ...

'',

Giovan Francesco Rustici Giovan Francesco Rustici, or Giovanni Francesco Rustici, (1475–1554) was an Italian Italian Renaissance, Renaissance painter and sculptor. __NOTOC__ He was born into a noble family of Florence, with an independent income. Rustici profited fr ...

after Leonardo da Vinci, 1505 File:Tullio lombardo, busto di cristo, 1520, donazione eredi de carlo al bargello 01.JPG, ''Bust of Christ'',

Tullio Lombardo Tullio Lombardo (c. 1455 – November 17, 1532), also known as Tullio Solari, was an Italian Renaissance sculptor. He was the brother of Antonio Lombardo and son of Pietro Lombardo. The Lombardo family worked together to sculpt famous Catholic ...

, 1520 File:Die Architektur, Giambologna, ca. 1570, Bargello Florenz-01.jpg, ''Allegory of Architecture,''

, c. 1570 File:Gianlorenzo bernini, ritratto di costanza bonarelli, 1637-38, 02.JPG, ''

'',

Bernini Gian Lorenzo (or Gianlorenzo) Bernini (, ; ; Italian Giovanni Lorenzo; 7 December 1598 – 28 November 1680) was an Italian sculptor and architect. While a major figure in the world of architecture, he was more prominently the leading sculptor ...

, 1637/38 File:Bargello Gemito 02.JPG, ''Il Pescatorello'' ("The Fisherboy"),

, 1876

Other

The museum has a number of paintings, though nothing like the primary Florentine collection in the

, including the eponymous work by the 15th-century Master of the Bargello Tondo, and many painted ''

cassoni A cassone (plural ''cassoni'') or marriage chest is a rich and showy Italian type of chest, which may be inlaid or carved, prepared with gesso ground then painted and gilded. ''Pastiglia'' was decoration in low relief carved or moulded in g ...

'' (wedding chests) and ''

desci da parto A painted ''desco da parto'' (a birth tray or birth salver; : ''deschi da parto'') was an important symbolic gift on the occasion of a successful birth in late medieval and Early Modern Florence and Siena. The surviving painted ''deschi'' repr ...

'' (painted birthing trays). In the

decorative arts ] The decorative arts are arts or crafts whose aim is the design and manufacture of objects that are both beautiful and functional. This includes most of the objects for the interiors of buildings, as well as interior design, but typically excl ...

, the museum has a fine collection of ceramics, especially

maiolica Maiolica is tin-glazed pottery decorated in colours on a white background. The most renowned Italian maiolica is from the Renaissance period. These works were known as ''istoriato'' wares ("painted with stories") when depicting historical and ...

, textiles, tapestries, ivory, nielli,

medal A medal or medallion is a small portable artistic object, a thin disc, normally of metal, carrying a design, usually on both sides. They typically have a commemorative purpose of some kind, and many are presented as awards. They may be in ...

s, silver,

armour Armour (Commonwealth English) or armor (American English; see American and British English spelling differences#-our, -or, spelling differences) is a covering used to protect an object, individual, or vehicle from physical injury or damage, e ...

and coins. The right-hand panel of the

Anglo-Saxon The Anglo-Saxons, in some contexts simply called Saxons or the English, were a Cultural identity, cultural group who spoke Old English and inhabited much of what is now England and south-eastern Scotland in the Early Middle Ages. They traced t ...

bone

Franks Casket The Franks Casket (or the Auzon Casket) is a small Anglo-Saxon whale's bone (not "whalebone" in the sense of baleen) chest (furniture), chest from the early 8th century, now in the British Museum. The casket is densely decorated with knife-cut ...

is in the museum. Some of these are of international importance: the Italian nielli are arguably the best collection in the world, as is the collection of Italian Renaissance medals. The Bargello style of needlework has no actual connection with the museum, except that the best collection of early examples is there. The Islamic Hall at the Bargello was set up in 1982 by Marco Spallanzani and

Giovanni Curatola Giovanni may refer to: * Giovanni (name), an Italian male given name and surname * Giovanni (meteorology), a Web interface for users to analyze NASA's gridded data * ''Don Giovanni'', a 1787 opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, based on the legend of ...

at the direction of

Paola Barocchi Paola Barocchi (2 April 1927, in Florence – 25 May 2016, in Florence) was an Italian art historian, best remembered for her work in the fields of the history of modern art, art criticism, renaissance art, and mannerism. She notably published ...

and Giovanna Gaeta Bertelà, then the director. File:Art romana, fondi di coppe in vetro dorato, 350-400 circa 06.jpg, Roman

gold glass Gold glass or gold sandwich glass is a luxury form of glass where a decorative design in gold leaf is fused between two layers of glass. First found in Hellenistic Greece, it is especially characteristic of the Roman glass of the Late Roman Em ...

cup bottom, 350-400 File:Impératrice Ariane.JPG, ''Empress Ariane'',

Byzantine ivory Ivory carving is the carving of ivory, that is to say animal tooth or tusk, generally by using sharp cutting tools, either mechanically or manually. Objects carved in ivory are often called "ivories". Humans have ornamentally carved ivory sinc ...

, 6th century File:Aquamanile - Bargello Mac' Hornu.JPG,

Aquamanile In modern usage, an aquamanile (plural aquamanilia or simply aquamaniles) is a ewer or jug-type vessel in the form of one or more animal or human figures. It usually contained water for the washing of hands (''aqua'' + ''manos'') over a basin, w ...

with mounted Saint George (Mosan or Rhine region - c. 1400-1410) File:Firenze (attr.), celata veneziana da mostra, 1450-1500 riadattata nel XVII-XVIII sec.jpg, 15th-century parade helmet, with later work File:Antonio Vicentino, medaglia di Argentina Pallavicino.JPG,

Antonio Vicentino Antonio is a masculine given name of Etruscan language, Etruscan origin deriving from the root name Antonius. It is a common name among Romance language–speaking populations as well as the Balkans and Lusophone Africa. It has been among the top ...

, medal of Argentina Pallavicino File:Arte limosina, cofanetto in bronzo e smalti, xvi secolo 02.jpg, Casket in Renaissance painted

Limoges enamel Limoges enamel has been produced at Limoges, in south-western France, over several centuries up to the present. There are two periods when it was of European importance. From the 12th century to 1370 there was a large industry producing metal o ...

File:Alessandro allori, spalliere con gli amori di giove e grottesche, 1572, 03 §.jpg, Headboard with the ''Loves of Jupiter'',

Alessandro Allori Alessandro di Cristofano di Lorenzo del Bronzino Allori (Florence, 31 May 153522 September 1607) was an Italian painter of the late Mannerist Florentine school. Biography After the death of his father in 1541, Allori was brought up and trained ...

, 1572 (detail)

References

External links

* {{authority control Palaces in Florence Gothic architecture in Florence 1865 establishments in Italy Art museums and galleries established in 1865 Sculpture galleries in Italy Art museums and galleries in Florence Paintings by Giotto

Name

History

Collection

Sculpture

Other

See also

References

External links