Early 20th century photograph of the Palazzo Pitti, then still known as La Residenza Reale following the residency of King Emmanuel II between 1865 to 1871 when Florence was the capital of Italy.

The Pitti Palace, Florence (known in Italy as Palazzo Pitti) is an enormous, mainly renaissance mansion dating from 1458. Originally the town residence of a poweful and ambitious Florentine banker; from the time of the Medici it became for three centuries the home of the ruling families of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. In the 19th century it was used as a power base by Napoleon I, and later for a brief period it was the prinipal royal palace of Italy. In the early 20th century it was transformed into one of Florence's largest art galleries housing several major collections. It continues in this use today, and is fully open to the public. Image File history File links Photochrome (Photochrom) Print of Pitti Palace, royal residence, Florence, Italy. ... Image File history File links Photochrome (Photochrom) Print of Pitti Palace, royal residence, Florence, Italy. ... Victor Emmanuel II (Italian: Vittorio Emanuele II; March 14, 1820 – January 9, 1878) was the King of Piedmont, Savoy and Sardinia from 1849–1861. ... 1865 is a common year starting on Sunday. ... 1871 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Founded 59 BC as Florentia Region Tuscany Mayor Leonardo Domenici (Democratici di Sinistra) Area  - City Proper  102 km² Population  - City (2004)  - Metropolitan  - Density (city proper) 356,000 almost 500,000 3,453/km² Time zone CET, UTC+1 Latitude Longitude 43°47 N 11°15 E www. ... Founded 59 BC as Florentia Region Tuscany Mayor Leonardo Domenici (Democratici di Sinistra) Area  - City Proper  102 km² Population  - City (2004)  - Metropolitan  - Density (city proper) 356,000 almost 500,000 3,453/km² Time zone CET, UTC+1 Latitude Longitude 43°47 N 11°15 E www. ... By Region: Italian Renaissance Northern Renaissance *French Renaissance *German Renaissance *English Renaissance The Renaissance, also known as Rinascimento (in Italian), was an influential cultural movement which brought about a period of scientific revolution and artistic transformation, at the dawn of modern European history. ... Mansion near Almelo, The Netherlands A mansion is a large and stately dwelling house. ... Events January 24 - Hungary Foundation of Magdalen College, University of Oxford George of Podebrady becomes king of Bohemia Pope Pius II becomes pope Turks sack the Acropolis Births Jacopo Sannazaro, Italian poet Deaths June 27 - Alfonso V of Aragon August 6 - Pope Callixtus III Marques de Santillana, Spanish poet Categories... The Medici family was a powerful and influential Florentine family from the 13th to 17th century. ... The title of Grand Duke (Latin, Magnus Dux; German, Großherzog, Russian, Великий князь) used in Slavic, Baltic, and Germanic countries, is ranked in honour below King but higher than a sovereign Duke (Herzog) or Prince (Fürst). ... Tuscany (Italian Toscana) is a region in central Italy, bordering on Latium to the south, Umbria to the east, Emilia-Romagna and Liguria to the north, and the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Napoleon I of France, by Jacques-Louis David. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the...

Early history

Luca Pitti 1398-1472 began work on the palazzo in 1458

Eleanora of Toledo, Grand Duchess of Tuscany who purchased the Palazzo from the Pitti family in 1549 for the Medici family

The heart of this severe almost foreboding building was originally begun in 1458, by the Florentine banker Luca Pitti, a principal supporter and friend of Cosimo de' Medici. The early history of the Palazzo Pitti is a mixture of fact and myth. Pitti wanted to build, it was said, a large palazzo which would outshine the Palazzo Medici. It is also claimed he specifically instructed that the windows should be larger than the entrance of the Palazzo Medici. It has been said by, no lesser person than, Vasari that Brunelleschi was the palazzo's architect and that he was assisted in the task by his pupil Luca Fancelli. However besides obvious differences from Brunelleschi's style, Brunelleschi died twelve years before construction of the Palazzo began. The design and fenestration suggest that the unknown architect was more experienced in utilitarian domestic architecture than the humanist rules defined by Alberti. The original palazzo though impressive, would have been no rival to the magnificence of the Florentine Medici residences, in terms of either size or content. Who ever the architect of the Palazzo Pitti was, today Fancelli is generall credited, he was moving against the contemporary flow of fashion. The rusticated stonework gives the palazzo a severe and powerful atmosphere, reinforced by the three times repeated series of seven round topped apertures, reminiscent of a Roman aqueduct. The Roman style architecture appealing to the Florentine love of all things classical. This original design concept has withstood the test of time, and its influence has been maintained over all subsequent editions to the palazzo. Work stopped after Pitti suffered financial reverses following the deat of Cosimo de' Medici in 1464. Luca Pitti died in 1472 with the building uncompleted. Image File history File links Lucca Pitti. ... Image File history File links Lucca Pitti. ... Luca Pitti 1398-1472 Luca Pitti (1398 - 1472) was a Florentine banker during the period of the republic presided over by Cosimo de Medici. ... Events Glendalough monastery, Wicklow Ireland destroyed. ... Events February 20 - The Orkneys and Shetlands are annexed to the crown of Scotland Discovery of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia by João Vaz Corte-Real. ... Image File history File links Elanora of Toledo. ... Image File history File links Elanora of Toledo. ... The Medici family was a powerful and influential Florentine family from the 13th to 17th century. ... Events January 24 - Hungary Foundation of Magdalen College, University of Oxford George of Podebrady becomes king of Bohemia Pope Pius II becomes pope Turks sack the Acropolis Births Jacopo Sannazaro, Italian poet Deaths June 27 - Alfonso V of Aragon August 6 - Pope Callixtus III Marques de Santillana, Spanish poet Categories... Luca Pitti 1398-1472 Luca Pitti (1398 - 1472) was a Florentine banker during the period of the republic presided over by Cosimo de Medici. ... Jacopo Pontormo: Cosimo de Medici, 1518-1519 Cosimo di Giovanni de Medici (September 27, 1389, Florence – August 1, 1464, Careggi), was the first of the Medici political dynasty, rulers of Florence during most of the Italian Renaissance; also known as Cosimo the Elder and Cosimo Pater Patriae. ... The quintessential medieval European palace: Palais de la Cité, in Paris, the royal palace of France. ... Giorgio Vasari (Arezzo, Tuscany July 3, 1511 - Florence, June 27, 1574) was an Italian painter and architect, mainly known for his famous biographies of Italian artists. ... Filippo Brunelleschi, 1377 - 1446, was the first great Florentine architect of the Italian Renaissance. ... Architect at his drawing board, 1893 An architect, also known as a building designer, is a person involved in the planning, designing and oversight of a buildings construction, whose role is to guide decisions affecting those building aspects that are of aesthetic, cultural or social concern. ... Highly decorative Window in a Japanese Onsen in Hakone A window is an opening in an otherwise solid, opaque surface through which light and air can pass. ... Humanism is a system of thought that defines a socio-political doctrine (-ism) whose bounds exceed those of locally developed cultures, to include all of humanity and all issues common to human beings. ... Alberti was an illustrious Florentine family, rivals of the Medicis and the Albrizzi. ... Facade of the Palazzo del Te clearly showing rusticated stonework between the pilasters Rustication is an architectural term referring to the cutting of ashlar. ... The word aperture means an opening, from the Latin apere, to open. ... Pont du Gard, France, a Roman era aqueduct circa 19 BC, it is one of Frances top tourist attractions at over 1. ... Events February 20 - The Orkneys and Shetlands are annexed to the crown of Scotland Discovery of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia by João Vaz Corte-Real. ...

The Medici

A lunette painted in 1599. Depicting the then much smaller palazzo with the Boboli Gardens behind. The amphitheatre is clearly visable. The red stone excavated from the site was used in extensions to the palazzo.

The building was sold in 1549 by Buonaccorso Pitti to Eleonora of Toledo, the luxury loving wife of Grand Duke Cosimo I de' Medici of Tuscany. It was now that land at the rear of the palazzo was acquired in order to create a large formal park, today known as the Boboli Gardens. The landscape architect employed for this was Niccolo Tribolo, who was quickly succeeded by Bartolommeo Ammanati. The original design of the gardens centred on an amphitheatre, behind the corps de logis of the palazzo. Here the classically inspired plays of such Florentine playwrights a Giovan Battista Cini ] were performed, with elaborate sets designed by the court architect Baldassarre Lanci for the amusement of the cultivated Medici court. Image File history File links Lunette depicting the Palazzo Pitti, Firenza. ... Image File history File links Lunette depicting the Palazzo Pitti, Firenza. ... In architecture, a lunette (diminutive of French lune, moon) is a half-moon shaped space, either masonry or void. ... Events Swedish King Sigismund III Vasa is replaced by his brother Charles IX of Sweden. ... The Boboli Gardens is a famous park in Florence, Italy that is home to a small but distinguished collection of sculptures. ... The name amphitheatre (alternatively amphitheater) is given to a public building of the Classical period (being particularly associated with ancient Rome) which was used for spectator sports, games and displays. ... Events July - Ketts Rebellion Francis Xavier arrives in Japan. ... Cosimo I de Medici in Armour by Agnolo Bronzino Cosimo I de Medici (June 12, 1519 – April 21, 1574) was the first Grand Duke of Tuscany, ruling from 1537 to 1574, during the waning days of the Renaissance. ... The Boboli Gardens is a famous park in Florence, Italy that is home to a small but distinguished collection of sculptures. ... The name amphitheatre (alternatively amphitheater) is given to a public building of the Classical period (being particularly associated with ancient Rome) which was used for spectator sports, games and displays. ... A plan of Lancis new city at Terra del Sole. ...

The Palazzo Pitti today photographed from the Piazzale

Following completion of the gardens Ammanati turned his attentions to the palazzo itself, creating a large courtyard immediately behind the principal facade. This courtyard has heavy banded rusticated stonework, which was to be widely copied most notable for the Parisian palais of Maria de' Medici the Luxembourg. Ammanati also created what are known as the kneeling windows in the principal facade, these windows, probably so called as with their classical pediments resemble Prie dieux, replaced the earlier terminating entrances. In the 17th century this facade was further extended to its present length by the father and son team of Giulio and Alfonso Parigi. During the 18th century two perpendicular wing were constructed by the architect Giuseppe Ruggeri to enhance and stress the cour d'honneur which is entered from the Via Romana. Sporadic lesser additions and alterations were made thereafter for many years, under other rulers and architects. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (789x601, 143 KB)Firenze, Palazzo Pitti. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (789x601, 143 KB)Firenze, Palazzo Pitti. ... The Eiffel Tower has become a symbol of Paris throughout the world. ... Marie de Medici (April 26, 1573 - July 3, 1642), born in Italy as Maria de Medici, was queen consort of France under the French name Marie de Médicis. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ...

Houses of Lorraine and Savoy

19th century architectutal drawing and plan of the Palazzo Pitti

The palazzo remained the Medici's principal residence until the fall of the dynasty in 1737. The palazzo was then taken over by the new Grand Dukes of Tuscany, the Austrian Lorraines. Their tenancy was briefly interrupted by Napoleon, who used the Pitti during his period of control over Italy. When Tuscany passed from the Lorraines to the House of Savoy in 1860, the Pitti was included. After the Risorgimento, when Florence was briefly the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II resided in the Pitti until 1871. His grandson, Vittorio Emanuele III, presented the Pitti to the nation in 1919. The palazzo and other buildings in the Boboli Gardens then became divided into five separate art galleries art gallery, and museum, housing not only many of its original contents, but pricelss artefacts from many other collections acquired by the state. The 140 rooms open to the public are part of an interio which is in large part a later product than the original portion of the structure, mostly created in two phases, dating from the 17th century and early 18th century respectively. Some parts are earlier, and there are later additions such as the Throne Room. Image File history File links 19th century print of the Palazzo Pitti, Firenza. ... Image File history File links 19th century print of the Palazzo Pitti, Firenza. ... Events 12 February — The San Carlo, the oldest working opera house in Europe, is inaugurated. ... The Duchy of Lorraine was an independent state for most of the period of time between 843 to 1739. ... For other uses, see Napoleon (disambiguation). ... The House of Savoy was a dynasty of nobles who traditionally had their domain in Savoy, a region between Piedmont, Italy, France and French-speaking Switzerland. ... 1860 is the leap year starting on Sunday. ... Italian unification, also known as Risorgimento (resurrection), was a historical process by which the Kingdom of Sardinia (ruled by the Savoy dynasty with Turin as its capital) gradually conquered the Italian peninsula, including the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, the Duchy of Modena, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, the Duchy... King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy Victor Emmanuel II (Italian: Vittorio Emanuele II; March 14, 1820—January 9, 1878) was the King of Piedmont, Savoy and Sardinia from 1849–1861, and King of Italy from 1861 until his death in 1878. ... 1871 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Victor Emmanuel III Victor Emmanuel III (Italian: Vittorio Emanuele III) (November 11, 1869 - December 28, 1947), nicknamed The Soldier, was the King of Italy (July 29, 1900 - May 9, 1946), and claimed the titles Emperor of Ethiopia (1936 - 1943) and King of Albania (1939 - 1943). ... 1919 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... A museum is typically a non-profit, permanent institution in the service of society and of its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits, for purposes of study, education enjoyment, the tangible and intangible evidence of people and their environment. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ...

The Palazzo Pitti galleries

The palazzo is now the largest museum complex in the Florence, the pricipal palazzo block is 32.000 square metres, and divided into six principal galleries or museums. The first and perhaps the most famous of the galleries is the:-

The Palatine Gallery

Raphael's La Donna Velata, from the Medici collection in the Palatine collection

a large ensemble of paintings once part of the Medici's "private" gallery. The gallery contains works by Raphael, Titian, Correggio, Rubens, and Pietro da Cortona. This part of the palazzo on the first floor piano nobile was first opened to the public in 1828. Image File history File links Painting by Raphael in the Palazzo Pitti, Firenze. ... Image File history File links Painting by Raphael in the Palazzo Pitti, Firenze. ... Self-portrait by Raphael. ... The Medici family was a powerful and influential Florentine family from the 13th to 17th century. ... Self-portrait by Raphael. ... Titian. ... Correggio is the name of a town in Italy and of a famous painter who was born there. ... Pieter Pauwel (Peter Paul) Rubens (June 28, 1577 - May 30, 1640) was a Flemish baroque painter. ... Pietro da Cortona (Pietro Berettini) (1596- May 16, 1669) was an Italian painter and architect. ... Kedleston Hall. ... 1828 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

The Silver museum

The Silver Museum, sometimes called "The Medici Treasury", besides a collection of priceless silver also contains cameos, and works in semi-previous gemstones, many of the latter from the collection of Lorenzo de' Medici). The Porcelain Museum, and others galleries are similarly endowed with valuable works of art. These rooms formerly state appartments are decorated by 17th century frescoes. 2002 Lincoln cent, Obverse, proof with cameo Cameo is a method of carving; or an item of jewelry made in this manner. ... A gemstone is a mineral, rock (as in lapis lazuli) or petrified material that when cut or faceted and polished is collectible or can be used in jewellery. ... Lorenzo di Piero de Medici (January 1, 1449, Florence [1] – 8 April 1492, Carregio) was an Italian statesman and ruler of the Florentine Republic during the height of the Italian Renaissance. ... A XIV Century fresco featuring Saint Sebastian Note: Fresco is the NATO reporting name of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17. ...

The Porcelain museum

This museum is housed in the Casino del Cavaliere in the Boboli Gardens. The porcelain is from many of the most notable European porcelain factories, many items in the collection were gifts to the Florentine rulers by other European sovereighns, other works were specially commissioned by the Grand Cucal court. Factories as Sevres, Meissen and Dresden being well represented in the collection. The Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas (jb) A casino is a building that accommodates certain types of gambling games and activities. ... Sèvres is a commune of the Hauts-de-Seine département in France. ... Old town of Meißen. ... Brühls Terrace Brühlsche Terrasse and the Frauenkirche   Dresden? IPA: is the capital city of the German federal state of Saxony, is situated in a valley on the river Elbe. ...

The State appartments

These are the 14 principal reception rooms of the palazzo, formerly used by the Medici family, and their sucessors. These have been largely altered since the era of the Medici, most recently in the 19th century.

The Gallery of Modern Art

This large collection of works by artists of the Macchiaioli movement and of other modern Italian schools of the late 19th, 20th century.

Further reading

• Francesco Gurrieri, Patrizia Fabbri, (photography Stefano Giraldi), "Palaces of Florence" (Rizzoli, 1996), pp. 66-77 for the Palazzo Pitti

See also

Luca Pitti Luca Pitti 1398-1472 Luca Pitti (1398 - 1472) was a Florentine banker during the period of the republic presided over by Cosimo de Medici. ...

References

• Chierici, Gino. Il Palazzo Italiano. 1964. Milano
• Mason, Georgina. Italian Villas and Palaces. 1959. London
• Davis, Wayne. Palaces of Europe. 1968. Hamlyn. London

External links

• Pitti Palace, Florence virtual reality movie and pictures
• The Pitti Palace
• The Pitti complex
• The Pitti Palace and Museums - see sub-pages for individual museums