Via dell'Agnolo N. 59 r
The tabernacles of FLOrence
THE TABERNACLE
Tabernacle
This tabernacle is located on Via dell'Agnolo, near the corner with Via Michelangelo Buonarroti. Protected by an elegant arched shrine adorned with a delicate angelic head, it serves as a significant devotional landmark.
This tabernacle embodies the profound spirituality and historical memory of Renaissance Florence, reflecting the deep connection between faith and daily life in the city.
Fresco
Created by an anonymous Florentine painter in the mid-16th century, the fresco depicts the Madonna and Child with Saint John the Baptist as a Child. The Virgin is seated on a throne elevated on three steps, while Saint John, holding a processional cross and dressed in animal skin, offers a fruit to the Child.
The artwork, which has suffered damage over time, has been restored multiple times, including an intervention by the Benini restorers in 1953. The most recent restoration recovered the original design and some chromatic details.
Upon close observation, one can see the incisions left by the artist to outline the contours before painting, a detail that reveals the creative process behind this extraordinary artistic testimony.
THE AUTHOR
An Anonymous Florentine Painter (mid-16th century)
The identity of the fresco's painter remains unknown, but their style shows clear influences from Andrea del Sarto and the school of San Marco. Characterized by a robustness in the figures described as "Michelangelesque," the work reflects the artistic evolution of a period rich in cultural fervor.
The artist worked within the vibrant Florentine artistic scene, shaped by the spiritual transformations inspired by Savonarola and the return of the Medici family in 1530. These historical events deeply influenced artistic production, infusing a strong sense of spirituality and monumentality into the works of the time.
THE STREET
Via dell'Agnolo, corner Via Michelangelo Buonarroti
- Via dell'Agnolo takes its name from the Archangel Michael, likely connected to the ancient Oratory of San Michele della Pace, founded in 1474 to promote civic harmony.
- Via Michelangelo Buonarroti recalls the home of Michelangelo's descendants. The street was named in 1875 to commemorate the fourth centenary of the great artist's birth.
The Area
The fresco is located in a neighborhood rich in history and curiosities. Nearby Via delle Conce features a relief of the Archangel Michael, accompanied by the initials S.M.P., which refer to the Oratory of San Michele della Pace.
During the 14th century, this area was bustling with artisans and apprentices, often excluded from the major guilds of the Arti. This historical context gives the neighborhood a unique charm, serving as a testament to everyday life in medieval Florence.
FURTHER INFORMATION
in collaboration with
Information: Lorenzo Manzani
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