The
museum is situated in a fine building refurbished
by Stefano Bardini at the end of the 18th century
and donated by its owner to the Municipal Administration
of Florence in 1922. Bardini was a famous art
dealer who collected objects of different periods
and of high quality. Even the building itself
is remarkable for its use of doors, windows and
mouldings of old fragments originally belonging
to ruined churches and villas. The ceilings are
magnificent examples of Venetian and Tuscan woodwork
ranging from the 15th to the 17th centuries. The
collection comprises sculptures, paintings, furniture
pieces, ceramic pieces, tapestries but also fragments
of the old centre of Florence, salvaged before
its destruction. All these items are displayed
on the ground and the first floors according to
a layout that fully reflects the character of
a typically private collection, with the touch
of a rather suggestive setting.
In addition to Roman sarcophagi, capitals, Roman
and Gothic relief work, there are also other remarkable
examples like the work of the Della Robbia brothers
(15th and 16th century), works attributed to Donatello
and to Nino or Giovanni Pisano, in addition to
the famous Charity by Tino di Camaino (1280 app.-1337).
The most outstanding painting of the collection
is perhaps St. Michael Archangel by Antonio Del
Pollaiolo (1431-1498), although there are many
other precious works among the collections of
weapons, 15th century polychrome stuccoes and
wooden sculpture. The collection of old musical
instruments is also worth a visit.
The second floor of the building exhibits the
Corsi collection that comprises some works from
the 12th to the 19th centuries, donated by Mrs.
Carobbi, the widow of Corsi, in 1938.
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