Art of Florence

In Florence, the arts shone with particular brilliance from the late Middle Ages to the Renaissance, reaching their peak at the beginning of the latter, in the Quattrocento (15th century). The aspirations of wealthy merchants and bankers, including the Medici, were in perfect harmony with the craftsmanship and innovative spirit of artists such as Brunelleschi, Masaccio, and Donatello, protagonists of the Early Renaissance.

Today, Florence is one of those cities where the past is manifested through its artistic treasures, from the cathedral whose dome stands out above the rooftops to the piazzas, churches, and palaces, not to mention the sculptures in public spaces. Its world-class museums, the Uffizi, the Palazzo Pitti, the Bargello, and many others attract millions of visitors each year. That said, voyages of discovery away from the masses of tourists also have their appeal—as does another form of exploration, which consists of discovering the art of Florence through images. This introduction to the history of Florentine art offers the reader an encounter of the second kind.