The square-shaped Tribune in Accademia Gallery is a room specifically designed to display Michelangelo’s David sculpture.
It also houses religious paintings by other famous artists from the Renaissance period, like Alessandro Allori, Francesco Salivati, and more!
Visitors planning to see the most famous room of the gallery must know all about the artworks on display and its history for the best experience.
In this article, we’ll discover the stories behind Michelangelo’s famous David sculpture and the other gallery wings in detail!
Where is the Tribune in the Accademia Gallery?
The Tribune Hall stands beyond the Hall of the Prisoners and is the most crowded room in the Accademia Gallery.
You can quickly get to the room by taking the first left from the entrance and a right to the Hall of Prisoners.
Check out our Accademia Gallery Map article to discover routes to all the famous rooms in the gallery so you can avoid all crowds!
Michelangelo’s David Sculpture: The Central Artwork
One of Michelangelo’s largest and most famous Italian Renaissance sculptures is his 17-foot-tall statue of David!
It stands at the T-shaped intersection of the Tribune Hall, attracting over a million visitors to the Gallery annually.
The statue is based on the Biblical figure of David, from the exciting story of David and Goliath.
In the story, with God’s blessings, David killed Goliath by throwing a stone.
It was constructed to display this statue, which stands as the entire room’s highlight piece.
You will see a marvelous Dome skylight that opens directly above the statue, allowing it to shine like it is under a spotlight!
Michelangelo chose this subject because statues and paintings of David were very popular in Italy during the Renaissance period.
He also used David as a subject while designing frescos for his most famous Sistine Chapel ceiling artworks!
The Right Wing
The Tribune Hall is T-shaped, connecting with the corridor-shaped hall of the prisoners.
The statue of David stands at the intersection, while the wings of the Hall display some of the most stunning religious paintings.
Most painters’ work is displayed in the gallery since they drew inspiration from Michelangelo’s artworks.
The right wing is dominated by Francesco Salivati’s Madonna and the Child, which features young St. John and an Angel Painting!
It is one of the brightest paintings in the gallery, incorporating iridescent colors that draw the eyes of all viewers.
Francesco was a famous Mannerist painter and took great inspiration from Michelangelo to draw striking compositions for all his pieces.
He was also a gifted sculptor, and his work is displayed here to honor the reconstruction he did on Michelangelo’s David during the riots on Piazza dell Signoria.
Salivati fixed David’s arm after twelve years of effort with the help of the few pieces rescued in 1527!
The Left Wing
The Tribune’s left wing has many more artworks on display than the right wing since both sides of the wall are lined with paintings.
Some of the must-see paintings in the left wing of the Tribune are:
1. Deposition of Christ by Santi di Tito
The first painting you will come across on the left wall is Santi di Tito’s Deposition of Christ, an oil painting on wood created in 1590.
At the center of the painting is the body of Jesus, in a sitting position, as his body is taken down from the cross after his death due to crucifixion.
Behind him is Mother Mary holding him up, with Saints John the Baptist and Catherine from Alexandria on either side.
Santi di Tito also added the portrait of Ernardo Sastri, wearing armor with the symbol of the knights of St. Stephen, to honor him.
In the background, you can see a stunning blue sky, with two crosses standing to show the scene on the mountain of Golgotha.
You can also see Santi di Tito’s signature on the bottom left corner of this piece!
2. Deposition of Christ by Bronzino
The first painting on the right wall is Bronzino’s Deposition of Christ, which he completed with the help of his pupil Alessandro Allori in 1561.
It is an oil painting on canvas, showing the scene of Jesus being taken down from the cross.
Cosimo I Medici originally commissioned this painting for a small Church on the Eba Island in Portoferrairo.
Bronzino drew inspiration from Michelangelo’s nude paintings of the Sistine Chapel to create the anatomically perfect body of Jesus.
You can also find a self-portrait of Bronzino, appearing as the bearded character on the bottom left of the painting!
3. Alessandro Allori’s Annunciation
The third painting on the right is Alessandro Allori’s Annunciation masterpiece, painted between 1572 and 1578.
The scene’s background looks like a small 16th-century Florence house, and Angel Gabriel is coming in from the left.
He appears on a white cloud, holding a white lily in hand to gift Mary, symbolizing purity, while his other hand points to the heavens.
Alessandro paid great attention to detail, adding soft lighting to the painting and some home decorations like a basket on the floor.
You can also see the fear and confusion on Mother Mary’s face as she has been given a choice.
Sister Laura dei Pazzi commissioned this piece to be displayed in a Convent located in Montedomini.
4. Coronation of the Virgin Mary by Alessandro Allori
The flower-filled painting is the fourth painting on the right wall, created by Alessandro Allori in 1593.
At the top of the painting is a scene of Mother Mary bowing her head in front of Jesus, who has a crown in hand.
Behind her is God the Father giving his blessings, and the base is filled with many angels.
If you look closely, you will see many flowers growing in the grass at the base, in the Angel’s hands, and even in a majestic bouquet!
Each flower represents Mary’s values and her good deeds for the pilgrims!
Alessandro drew inspiration for these flowers from the extensive Medici Gardens since the family had a great passion for science and plants.
The piece was painted for Florence’s Santa Maria degli Angeli Church before it moved to the Tribune.
History of the Tribune
Michelangelo’s David previously stood in Piazza della Signoria since its creation in 1504.
To conserve the statue and maintain its beauty, it was decided that the statue should be moved to an interior space in the 1850s.
Emilio de Fabris, an Italian architect, was called to create a fitting space for this marvelous statue in the Accademia Gallery.
He added a unique dome skylight to the Gallery of Ancient Paintings, which is the old name of the now Tribune.
The statue was finally placed in the Tribune on its completion in 1822!
In the 16th century, all the paintings were added to the left and right sides of the Tribune.
Best Time to Explore
Since the Tribune is the most crowded Hall of the Galleria dell’Accademia, you must begin exploring the gallery from this room.
It houses the famous Michelangelo’s David statue, so we recommend visiting before 9 am to avoid the huge crowds.
You can also visit after 4 pm and see the statue from all angles comfortably.
Avoid visiting the gallery to see Michelnagelo’s David on the first Sunday of the month when admission is free.
Contents
FAQs on the Tribune
1. When was the Tribune constructed?
The Tribune was completed in 1822 by Emilio de Fabris.
2. Which is the most famous statue inside the Tribune?
Michelangelo’s David is the most famous statue on display in the Tribune.
3. Which is the most famous painting in the Tribune?
Francesco Salivati’s Madonna and the Child, which features young St. John and an Angel Painting, is the most famous.
4. Where was the statue of David before it was shifted to the Tribune?
The statue stood in Piazza del Signoria in the 1500s before being sent to the Accademia Gallery in 1873. The statue remained in a wooden crate for nine years until the Tribune was ready in 1882!
5. When is the Tribune in Accademia Gallery least crowded?
The Hall is least crowded from 8.15 am to 9 am and after 4 pm.
6. Who painted the Deposition paintings in the Tribune?
The Tribune has two Deposition paintings, one by Santi di Tito in 1590 and the other by Bronzino in 1561.
7. What is the layout of the Accademia Gallery Tribune like?
It is a room in a T-shape and the Hall of Prisoners. The David sculpture stands at the central intersection, while the room is divided into a left and right wing.
8. Do I need tickets to explore the Tribune?
You need Accademia Gallery tickets to explore the Tribune and see Michelangelo’s David sculpture.
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