Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Palazzo Rucellai
2
Via della Vigna Nuova 16.
Map
1 C5
(5 B2).
www
.
palazzorucellai.com
Museo Marino
Marini (San
Pancrazio)
1
Piazza San Pancrazio.
Map
1 B5
(5 B2).
Tel
055 21 94 32.
#
Built in 1446-51, this is one of
the most ornate Renaissance
palaces in the city. It was
commissioned by Giovanni
Rucellai, whose wealth derived
from the family business, the
import of a rare and costly red
dye made from a lichen found
only on Majorca. The dye was
called
oricello
, from which
the name Rucellai is derived.
Giovanni commissioned
several buildings from the
architect Leon Battista Alberti,
who went on to write an
influential architectural treatise
called
De Re Aedificatoria
(Concerning Architecture) in
1452. Alberti designed the
Palazzo Rucellai almost as a
textbook illustration of the
major Classical orders. In
ascending order of complexity,
the pilaster strips on the
ground floor are Doric, those
above are Ionic and those on
the top floor are Corinthian.
The construction of the palace
combined eight medieval
houses into one structure.
Two symbols are carved into
the entablature: the Rucellai's
billowing sails of Fortune and
the ring symbol of the Medici
family. The ring is a reminder
that Bernardo Rucellai formed
an alliance with the Medici in
the 1460s by marrying Lorenzo
de' Medici's sister, Lucrezia.
The Loggia del Rucellai,
opposite the palace, was most
likely built to commemorate
the marriage. The Loggia is
now a shop, but it is still
possible to see the architrave.
Today the Palazzo remains
the property of the Rucellai
family. It is located on a
prominent shopping street
and is within easy walking
distance of several main
sights and the Stazione di
Santa Maria Novella. Part of
the building is used as an
educational center, the
Institute at Palazzo Rucellai,
which provides a liberal arts,
study abroad programme for
students of North American
colleges. On site are fully-
equipped classrooms, a library
and a Fine art studio for classes
and student exhibitions.
10am-5pm Mon, Wed-Sat.
¢
public hols.
& 6 7
8
www
.
museomarinomarini.it
The former church of San
Pancrazio has been turned
into a museum devoted to the
work of Italy's best known
abstract artist, Marino Marini
(1901-80). Marini was born
in Pistoia, where more of his
work can be seen in the
Palazzo del Comune and in
the Centro Marino Marini
(see
p186)
. Marini studied art in
Florence before moving on to
teaching in Monza and at the
prestigious Brera Academy in
Milan. He sought to reinter-
pret Etruscan and medieval
art forms and is noted for rug-
ged and elemental bronzes.
Many of these are on the
theme of horse and rider,
expressing a range of moods
and experiences, from sombre
weariness to joyous eroticism.
San Pancrazio itself is one
of the oldest churches in
Florence. It was founded in
Bronze statue,
Cavaliere
(1949), by
Marini in the Museo Marino Marini
the 9th century, though its
most attractive features are
from the Renaissance period,
including a graceful Classical
façade and porch (1461-7)
by Leon Battista Alberti.
San Pancrazio was the
parish church of the wealthy
merchant Giovanni Rucellai.
Inside, in the Cappella di
San Sepolcro, built by Alberti
in 1467, is Rucellai's tomb,
which is modelled on the
Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem
(the tomb of Christ).
19th-century view of Lungarno degli Acciaiuoli, from Palazzo Rucellai
