The Accademia Gallery’s Gipsoteca Bartolini is a crowded room of plaster and clay figures made by Lorenzo Bartolini!
The sculptures help you observe people’s lifestyle in the Renaissance period in Florence, showing their attire, hairstyles, and actions.
Visitors planning to explore the gallery of Gispoteca, which looks frozen in time, must know all about its artworks and the techniques used.
Read further to discover the unique pieces on display in this room to plan the best experience!
Where is Gispoteca Bartolini located?
The only way to get to Gipsoteca Bartolini from the entrance of the Accademia Gallery is through the Tribune.
You can quickly get here by passing through the Hall of Prisoners, whose entrance is near the washroom at the exit of the Gallery.
There is only one entry and exit door for the Gispoteca Bartolini, so be careful to avoid damaging the art while navigating the space.
About the Gipsoteca Bartolini
The hall houses 19th-century artworks by Lorenzo Bartolini, a professor at the nearby academy.
The Academy of Fine Arts came into existence in 1784 when the Duke of Tuscany, Peter Leopold, renovated the San Matthew hospital.
The Gispoteca hall you see today imitates the exact layout of Bartolini’s art studios.
His studios usually displayed funerary monuments to add to burial grounds and other private cast models.
The hall now houses the works of Bartolini and Pampaloni, which were given to the Gallery by Florence’s Academy of Fine Arts.
As you navigate the space, you will also notice changes in the artwork’s characteristics and techniques, such as the style changing from Neoclassicism to a more Romantic style.
The Artworks
The 19th-century artworks by Bartolini and Pampaloni were known for adding emotional grace to the sculpture.
This made most of their plaster-cast statues look alive!
All the sculptures wore Florentine outfits with attractive patterns, styling their hair in the most elaborate ways.
Most of Florence’s fashion trends were influenced by France, so that you will see simple, lined designs on women’s long gowns and tunics.
They also made portrait figures of important personalities, like Brunelleschi, Arnolfo di Cambio, and Machiavelli.
Lorenzo Bartolini was a well-known sculptor of busts and medallions, usually receiving such commissions from Polish, English, and Russian noble families.
Luigi Pampaloni, on the other hand, was commissioned by the Nobles to carve joyful portraits of their kids and pets!
Some of the famous sculptures and paintings in the Gipsoteca Bartolini Gallery are:
Young Boy with a Dog by Luigi Pampaloni
Luigi Pampaloni’s Young Boy with a Dog was crafted in 1827 for an English collector.
It is based on the Neoclassical art form, with a simple composition and classic aesthetics.
Instead of showing Cupid petting a dog, Luigi transformed the design into something full of joy and obedience, which are children’s characteristics.
He made the sculpture modern by adding fur elements to the dog and ringlets to the child’s hair with a smiling face.
Luigi’s sculpture is known to make all visitors smile because of the contagious, innocent smile of the boy!
The Pontormo Fresco
Most visitors miss seeing this stunning fresco, Pontormo, by Jacopo Carrucci, painted in 1514.
It measures 91 x 150 cm and hides behind the casts on the left wall of the Gipsoteca Gallery.
Jacopo uses a unique technique called ‘Terra Verde’ and adds greenish hues to the painting, with a pigment-rich in iron.
The Gipsoteca Hall was originally a women’s ward in the Hospital of St. Matthew, and this painting captures a scene of this past!
You can see a calm scene of nurses caring for the sick and others washing their feet, praying for them, and offering help.
It is considered a window to the past, allowing historians to discover the history of this Accademia Gallery Hall!
Modeling Techniques Used
All the models you see inside the Gallery today were made of clay.
A layer of Patina was applied to the outside of the clay models to create marble, terracotta, and bronze effects.
You can also see some holes in the clay because of the regular insertion of nails.
This technique allowed the sculptor to check the depth of the clay after the block of it was rough-hewn.
Contents
FAQs on Gipsoteca Bartolini
1. Do I need tickets to see Gipsoteca Bartolini Gallery?
You will need Accademia Gallery tickets to explore the Gipsoteca Gallery.
2. What is the best time to explore the Gallery?
Visit the Accademia Gallery between 8.15 am and 9 pm for the least crowd inside the Gipsoteca.
3. Which is the best artwork in Gipsoteca Bartolini Hall?
Luigi Pampaoli’s Young Boy with a Dog sculpture is the best art piece in the Gallery.
4. What space was used to construct the Gipsoteca Hall?
Before the Gispsoteca Hall was constructed, the space belonged to St. Matthew’s Hospital.
5. Where is the hall located in the Accademia Gallery?
You can quickly get to the Gispoteca Hall by taking a left from the Tribune Hall, where Michelangelo’s David stands.
6. Who designed the plaster cast pieces in the Accademia Gallery?
ALuigi Pamaploni and Lorenzo Bartolini designed all the pieces in the Plaster Cast Gallerylini.
7. What technique was used in the sculptures of the Gipsoteca?
All the sculptures were made of clay, so a layer of patina was added to create the effect of marble, terracotta, and bronze.
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Featured Image: GalleriAaccademiafirenze.it
