Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Firenze
Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, Firenze – The Museo dell’Opera del Duomo (Museum of the Works of the Cathedral) in Florence is one of the most important museums of Renaissance sculpture in the world, housing masterpieces originally created for the Florence Cathedral (Duomo), Baptistery, and Campanile. Founded in 1891 and completely redesigned in 2015, the museum preserves and displays original artworks removed from the cathedral complex for conservation, replaced on the buildings by copies. The collection includes some of the supreme achievements of Italian sculpture: Michelangelo’s Pietà (also called the Florentine Pietà or Bandini Pietà), intended for his own tomb; the original panels from Lorenzo Ghiberti’s „Gates of Paradise“ from the Baptistery; Donatello’s wooden Mary Magdalene and his Cantoria (choir loft); original facade sculptures by Arnolfo di Cambio; and works by Luca della Robbia, Andrea Pisano, and Nanni di Banco. The Museo dell’Opera del Duomo is particularly celebrated for housing Michelangelo’s late Pietà (c. 1547-1555), one of his most moving works; Ghiberti’s original gilded bronze „Gates of Paradise“ panels (1425-1452), masterpieces of Early Renaissance relief sculpture; and Donatello’s haunting wooden Mary Magdalene (c. 1453-1455), considered one of his greatest achievements.
