Uffizi Gallery: A history lesson in art

The Uffizi Gallery collection of fine art began way back in the 1300's. As you tour the forty five rooms, you get a sense of wonder and amazement. There is just so much beauty to behold it would take hours to breathe it all in, and there is no way one day is sufficient to tour the Uffizi Gallery. Anyone who says they saw it all in an afternoon could not appreciate art.

Each room tells a story of the art for the time period it represents. The rooms chronologically place the masterpieces with the other artists of their time. You can actually see how art evolved just by following along each passageway in the great Uffizi Gallery. From the statues and sculptures of ancient Rome to the Renaissance Era and beyond, there is truly inspiration in every piece.

By watching as the methods and colors change, you can almost get a sense of what humanity was going through at the time the paintings were being created. The dark shadows reflecting the secret soul searching, while the light, soft artistry shows a calm acceptance of who we are. Each artist captures the essence of life during the time he was painting. You can also get a sense of the master's personality by studying the portraits.

Botticelli, whose work hangs in the rooms 10-14 of the Uffizi Gallery, was most admired for his rendition of The Spring and his other famous work The birth of Venus. Both of these pieces shows the affects of the Flemish painter Hugo van der Goes. The colors and details are vibrant and brilliant, the bodies of the subjects beautiful: these two pieces alone are worth the visit to the Uffizi Gallery.

The works of art by Leonardo da Vinci are exquisite. The magic he orchestrated on canvas was his true calling: the lines and forms are perfect, just like the perspectives, absolutely flawless. Seeing the subjects personalities come to life through the painting is something to behold. He was truly gifted in many ways.

Do not think that the only artists in the Uffizi Gallery were originally from Florence. There are great artists like Dürer and Lucas Cranach the Elder. Cranach is represented by the two panels he did of Adam and Eve. While Dürer is most noted for his Adoration of the Magi.

As you tour the Uffizi Gallery you can get a sense of how the artists each influenced each other. You can also see the influence the church had on art at the time. The late 1500's is no exception. When you view the artwork from the masters like Hans Memling or Albrecht Altdorfer there is structure in the painting. Almost a subdued quality to the works. Yet the backgrounds are full of life and color. Lucas Cranach the Elder painted the same way. Altdorfer paid tribute in copying the style.

No matter what art forms you are interested in, or style you hold dear, you will find it in the Uffizi Gallery: there is so much to enjoy! You must just take the time to visit on your own...

Federica Manetti is expert in the history of Florence's art and she works as tourist guide for the Uffizi Gallery and Museum. She collaborates with http://www.walksinsideflorence.it , a professional organization offering many kind of tours in Florence, Italy: Uffizi tours, walking tours, private and semi-private tours, guided tours of Florence.