A century-long artistic saga
Florence – Always used in the singular, Ghirlandaio is actually the trademark of the dynasty of such artists and
entrepreneurs, who, beginning in the second half of the 15 th century, dominated the scene of the Florentine Renaissance
for a century. Domenico (1449-1494) was therefore the first artist in the Ghirlandaio family of which were also part his
brothers David (1452-1525) and Benedetto (1458-1497), his half-brother Giovambattista, his brother-in-law Bastiano,
and his son Ridolfo (1483-1561). Numerous artists who were apprenticed to their school (Michelangelo and Granacci
being the most renowned) contributed to spreading in Italy and Europe their fame as masterly illustrators of Florence and
its civitas.
The Ghirlandaio’s workshop was above all a place with extraordinary professionals - very productive and
organized according to modern criteria as to skills and roles - where Domenico and Ridolfo were the true creative
masters of colour, some were extremely good at painting, and others besides expert in the workshop management.
Such a well-balanced, prolific and long-lived clan is now the focus of an extremely important exhibition, the first
one on the family in its entirety, which involves the whole area from Florence to Scandicci as well as various other
places in the hinterland. It is the land where the Ghirlandaio family lived and worked, rarely leaving it, disseminating it
with masterpieces, so much so as to turn it into a spectacular and diffused museum.
Hence the title of the event: The Ghirlandaio Family. Renaissance Painters in Florence and Scandicci, open
from November 21st, 2010 to May 1st, 2011, Thursdays to Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The
venues: the Castello dell’Acciaiolo in Scandicci, showcasing 15 works of art. From here visitors may follow a double
itinerary leading them to large and small museums, palazzos and churches, villas and abbeys which house dozens of
panel paintings, altarpieces and frescoes. Works which have mainly a religious character and represent the Madonna and
Child, the nativity, the annunciation, but which also include portraits and figures that document the Florence of that time.
This implies that the exhibition is made up of a series of exhibitions and venues, ascribable to two well-known
cultural projects: that of the Città degli Uffizi, conceived by Antonio Natali, director of the famous gallery, to showcase
the immense artistic heritage kept in the Uffizi store rooms and promote the beautiful areas around Florence, and the
Piccoli Grandi Musei one organized by the Ente Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze with an expert committee presided over
by Antonio Paolucci, which has the aim of promoting the artistic and monumental heritage of the Florentine area.
It was in honour of the Ghirlandaio family that the two aforementioned projects merged. The initiative is
promoted by the Special Office for Monuments and Fine Arts of the Polo Museale Fiorentino, the Uffizi Gallery and the
Municipality of Scandicci, along with the Ente Cassa di Risparmio, the Regional Office for the Cultural and Landscape
Heritage of Tuscany, the Monuments and Fine Arts Office of the metropolitan area (Florence-Pistoia-Prato), the
Provincial Administration of Florence, the Municipality of Florence, and the Romualdo del Bianco Foundation. It is
under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and involves the collaboration of the Tuscan
Regional Administration, the Opificio delle Pietre Dure, the municipalities of Calenzano, Campi Bisenzio, Sesto
Fiorentino, Signa and Lastra a Signa. The catalogue is published by Polistampa.
As it is known, the true surname of Domenico Ghirlandaio was Bigordi, and he and his brothers ended up being
identified with the nickname of their father, an excellent goldsmith renowned for his special skill in making garlands
(ghirlanda in Italian). From Scandicci, their homeland, they moved to Florence in the first half of the 15 th century, and in
this town, which was then the world capital of art, their workshop became established in the second half of the century.
The exhibition tour starts from Scandicci. Curated by the art historian Annamaria Bernacchioni, the exhibition at the
Castello dell’Acciaiolo showcases a famous painting by Domenico (Saints James, Stephen and Peter), the beautiful
Madonna by Ridolfo (from the Fuligno Refectory) and another 14 works loaned by various museums in Florence.
From here two different Ghirlandaio exhibition tours start. The one in Florence includes the frescoes in the Sala
dei Gigli of the Palazzo Vecchio, the Sassetti Chapel and the Tornabuoni Chapel - respectively in the churches of Santa
Trinita and Santa Maria Novella - and the Adoration of the Magi at the Museo degli Innocenti. Numerous other
masterpieces by such artists are in the Uffizi Gallery, the Accademia Gallery, the Palatine Gallery and in the Ognissanti
and San Marco Refectories, all of which are to be visited even though not part of this specific programme.
The other tour is in the area north-west of Florence, on both sides of the Arno, abounding in works of art that the
Ghirlandaio family left behind: in the houses which belonged to the family in San Martino and Colleramole, in the
millenary Settimo Abbey, in the Church of Sant’Andrea in Campi Bisenzio, in the Sacred Art Museums of San Donnino
and San Martino a Gangalandi. And also Mosciano, Giogoli, San Martino alla Palma, and San Colombano.
It is a fascinating journey in the Florentine Renaissance which offers guided visits, meetings for families, school
contests, educational workshops, as well as a prize for students and artisans. Moreover, you can buy or taste typical
products in restaurants, shops, and firms participating in the initiative.
Information and bookings: 055.2340742, www.ghirlandaio.it.