The Ghirlandaio Family in Florence and Scandicci

The Ghirlandaio Family
Renaissance painters in Florence and Scandicci
Castello dell’Acciaiolo
Scandicci (near Florence)
21st November 2010 - 1st May 2011
Curator: Annamaria Bernacchioni

Exhibition held under the auspices of the Città degli Uffizi project and the
initiative Piccoli Grandi Musei.

Scandicci is by no means an arbitrary venue; on the contrary it has been chosen specially to house the exhibition on the Ghirlandaio family in an area to which these artists were always tied.

Among the works of art showcased in the exhibition  at the Castello dell’Acciaiolo is a beautiful panel painting by Domenico Ghirlandaio, along with other masterpieces by his pupils. Here visitors will be able to admire true gems from the store rooms of the Uffizi Gallery that are otherwise difficult to see. They enrich the choice of works of art on display and help us retrace the lesson that Domenico Ghirlandaio handed down to the artist members of his family as well as to other illustrious masters of the time, following the tradition of the Renaissance workshops.

Domenico Ghirlandaio, Madonna and Child with Sts Sebastian and Julian
Sant'Andrea a Brozzi, San Donnino

Along with the exhibition at the Castello dell’Acciaiolo, the Piccoli Grandi Musei project offers to visitors the possibility of tracing the artistic activity of the Ghirlandaio family in the area. The recommended itinerary includes a visit to: the abbeys of San Salvatore and San Lorenzo in Settimo, the Museum of Sacred Art of San Martino in Gangalandi in the Lastra a Signa area, and also to the Museum of Sacred Art and the adjoining Church of Sant’Andrea in San Donnino, in the municipality of Campi Bisenzio. Here, visitors will be able to observe the large fresco by Domenico Ghirlandaio of the Madonna and Child Enthroned between Saints Sebastian and Julian. In the Palazzo Medici Riccardi, a video will illustrate the places where Domenico Ghirlandaio and his workshop were active.

Domenico Ghirlandaio, Adoration of the Magi
Spedale degli Innocenti, Florence

From November 21st to 25th, the Museo degli Innocenti takes part, even though its rooms are temporarily closed, with the installation in the courtyard of a digital video which explains in detail the story of the Adoration of the Magi by Domenico Ghirlandaio - part of the museum’s collection and on display again from November 27th.

Ghirlandaio Family tour itinerary:

View Ghirlandaio Itinerary in a larger map

Every Sunday full-day tours by coach which include a guided visit to the exhibition at the Castello dell’Acciaiolo and a tour of the locations in the above itenarary. Meeting point in the Piazza Adua (Florence) at 9:30 a.m. Return time, around 6:00 p.m. Packed lunch recommended.

Ridolfo Ghirlandaio and Michele Tosini, Mystic Marriage of St Catherine
Montalve Collection, Universita degli Studi, Florence

Exhibition official website (in Italian)
Familia et civitas: The Ghirlandaios and Scandicci - essay by the Curator of the exhibition Annamaria Bernacchioni (in Italian)
Review of the exhibition on Italian Network (in Italian)

David Ghirlandaio, Crucifixion with the Virgin, St John the
Evangelist and Sts Egidius and Bernard
Cenacolo di San Salvi, Florence