Uffizi Highlights

Art in Florence. While incredibly romantic and inspiring, it can also be a bit daunting. The amount of paintings, sculptures, and architecture residing in this small Italian city is completely mind blowing. And seeing it all is just not possible. The Uffizi Gallery in Florence is the most prominent (and largest) art museum in the city and chances are, you already have it on your list of places to go. However, just because this museum is the largest and holds an incredible collection of Italian Renaissance work, it does not have everything you may be hoping to see. For example, Michelangelo’s David is located at the Accademia across town, while Donatello’s David resides in the Bargello. Other important sculptures and countless paintings are also scattered throughout town in various locations, from public squares to cathedrals and churches. So although the Uffizi Gallery is a must, keep in mind that you may be hopping around to other museums and/or locations to see certain works.

With this in mind, I put together a list of Uffizi highlights to help you narrow down your list and save some time. That being said, if time is on your side, I encourage you to spend a leisurely day exploring the halls of the Uffizi and really taking in the inspiration around you. Being an Art History major, I hate suggesting you skate over certain time periods or artists, but I also just understand not having enough hours in the day to fit everything in.

The highlights I included below are not in order of importance, but rather, in the order I came across them in the Uffizi. They should still be in the same locations :)

Santa Trinita Maestà- Cimabue- 1280-1290

Created between 1280-1290 by the artist Cimabue, the Santa Trinita Maestà was created for the main alter of the Church of Santa Trinita. The significance of this piece and why I included it in my list is its Byzantine style. The abundance of gold and lack of perspective in paintings were typical to these times. Not only did Byzantine art consist of religious icons, but it also reflected a lack of realism. Starting your Uffizi highlights with Cimabue’s Santa Trinita Maestà, you’ll be able to see just how much style evolves over time.

Ognissanti Madonna- Giotto-1306

Located in the same room, you will find Giotto’s Ognissanti Madonna. Again, like Cimabue’s work, this was painted for an alterpiece in Florence and reflects a similar time period and composition. However, this piece showcases more modern qualities. Two things to note- the layout of the surrounding figures and the Madonna’s weighted form. The layered aspect of Giotto’s surrounding figures creates dimension and is more realistic than Cimabue’s stacked heads. Additionally, the Madonna’s robe drapes between her knees and off her breasts alluding to the fact that she does actually have a body. The realism here is something not typically seen and suggests the initial shift and advancement in Italian art.

The Duke and Duchess of Urbino- Piero della Francesca- 1473-1475

Created as diptych, these traditional portrait style works show the Duke of Urbino, Federico da Montefeltro and his wife Battista Sforza sitting in profile facing each other. The rolling hills and vast countryside of their property stretch out behind them and emphasize their significance. What’s noteworthy here is the use of perspective. The hills reach into the distance not only becoming smaller and smaller, but also, the colors becomes less vibrant and more faint.

Cestello Annunciation- Sandro Botticelli-1489-1490

Although Cestello Annunciation is the least famous of the three Botticelli works I included in this list, it is absolutely worth checking out! The Annunciation was and continues to be popular subject matter for religious art. In fact, many well known artists from the Italian Renaissance, including Fra Angelico, Titian, Filippo Lippi, Da Vinci, and countless others created their own versions of the Annunciation as well. The sheer veil worn by the angel here is one of my favorite details that’s easy to skip right over. The delicate quality is mirrored by both figure’s raised hands and elongated yet dainty fingers. Dimension and perspective is used by the tiles on the floor as they shorten in size and the landscape continues into the distance.

La Primavera-Sandro Botticelli-1477-1482

Also referred to as Allegory of Spring because of its many allegorical meanings, La Primavera is one of Botticelli’s most well known works. It was created for a member of the Medici family and thought to symbolize Renaissance Humanism and Neoplatonic ideals. Most critics believe it is an allegory of Spring however, hence the nickname. The painting is read from right to left, with the blue figure, Zephyr creating growth by impregnating the nymph Chloris. Chloris in turn, transforms into Flora, symbolizing Spring and scattering flowers on the ground. In the center, we find Venus presiding over the event, while the Three Graces dance together merrily, and Mercury, the figure to the left, chases the remaining clouds away. Cool fact- there are over 300 different plants depicted throughout the work.

Birth of Venus- Sandro Botticelli-1485

Birth of Venus is Botticelli’s most famous work and will most likely have a crowd swarming around it. Venus stands front and center on a seashell, almost appearing to be presented to the viewer. It’s absolutely striking. The painting lacks perspectival elements like we’ve seen in other works thus far, but the classical subject matter and stylized Venus is enough to capture your attention and draw you in.

Laocoön and His Sons- Baccio Bandinelli

The Laocoön and His Sons in the Uffizi is a copy of the Hellenistic original which is located in the Vatican. Bandinelli was commissioned in 1520 by Pope Leo X de’ Medici. He is said to have used 3 blocks of marble, contrasting the original which had been carved from a single block. The sculpture is super intricate and relays the sense of agony and struggle while the figures strain to free themselves and fight to survive.

The Baptism of Christ- Andrea del Verrocchio + Leonardo da Vinci-1474-1475

In 15th century studios, it was typical for artists to design a piece and have apprentices or students work on it. This was the case for The Baptism of Christ. The artist, Verrocchio was a master painter and apprenticing under him, was Leonardo da Vinci. Da Vinci began his apprenticing at a young age and was heavily influenced by Verrocchio’s work. In The Baptism of Christ, Leonardo was responsible for the angel on the left and a part of the background above. Looking at the angel’s face, you can see characteristics of Leonardo’s style.

Annunciation by Leonardo da Vinci-1472

Annunciation is one of Leonardo’s earliest major works and was created in Verrocchio’s workshop. It is also said to possibly be a work of collaboration. The painting depicts the religious scene in a nature setting and with atmospheric elements that later become characteristic of da Vinci’s work. It’s an interesting piece. Contrasting other Annunciation paintings that depict a more serene setting, this shows an angel appearing with tense, almost aggressive wings and a Mary that seems to be pulling back and unsure.

Judith Slaying Holofernes- Artemisia Gentileschi-1620

By far, one of my favorite works. EVER. I’ve been fortunate to not only see this work in Florence, but also in Chicago when we had her on loan for a short time. The story depicted here is taken from the Old Testament and is when Judith kills the Assyrian general Holofernes, freeing the Israeli people from Nebuchadnezzar's army. This piece is the only painting on my list done by a woman and the fact that it depicts a woman beheading a man is just mind blowing. What makes it so much more impactful is that Artemisia is said to have painted herself as Judith and her mentor, who had been tried and convicted of her rape, as Holofernes.

Medusa- Caravaggio-1597

As the story goes in Greek Mythology, Medusa was a Gorgon monster whose hair was made of living, venomous snakes. Just by looking her in the eye, you would immediately be turned to stone. Commissioned as a ceremonial shield, Caravaggio modeled himself for Medusa’s face. Ohh, the irony of modeling yourself for a character who turned people to stone by looking them in the eye. (Get it? He was staring at himself.. Okay.. maybe it’s not that funny). But anyway, the painting depicts the moment that Perseus beheads Medusa and a look of shock overtakes her face. The shield itself was actually a convex surface and Caravaggio somehow tricks the eye to making it look concave.

As I mentioned before, there really is so much so see and take in at the Uffizi. These are just a few highlights if you’re short on time and can’t spend your entire day meandering the halls. Don’t forget to get over to the Accademia and the Bargello as well! I will also be adding a post on a Free Self Guided Walking Tour in Florence anddd a Top 10 Absolute Must See Works of Art! So stay tuned :)