Tornabuoni Arte - Arte Antica

Active since: 2006
Areas of interest: Antique art, paintings, sculpture, furniture

Specialising in antique paintings, sculpture and furniture from the Middle Ages to the 19th century, Tornabuoni Arte – Arte Antica opened its doors in 2006, thanks to the efforts of Roberto Casamonti, who thus continued his involvement in the world of art, which began with his galleries of modern and contemporary art. Located in Via Maggio, one of Florence’s oldest streets, the headquarters of the gallery occupies the ground floor of Palazzo Giovanni, a refined, 14th-century palazzo close to Palazzo Pitti. Characterised by the majestic façades of noble palaces, Via Maggio was the city’s main thoroughfare (in fact it was originally called “Via Maggiore”), used by the Medici family when they moved to Palazzo Pitti in the 16th century. At the beginning of the 19th century, the street began hosting Florentine antique galleries and the shops of artisans. In addition to its historic location, the gallery recently opened a new display space in the heart of Florence in Via de’ Tornabuoni. Tornabuoni Arte - Arte Antica has established its place in the world of high-quality antiques, offering a wide collection of works with a specific focus on Renaissance and Baroque masters, such as the glazed terracotta pieces of the Della Robbia. Among the most interesting features of the gallery are the evocative main hall, covered in frescoes, and a hidden space dedicated to paintings from the 14th and 15th centuries, the so-called fondi oro (‘gold grounds’). Here the splendour of works is brought out by the dim light, which recalls the austerity of mediaeval churches and creates a mystical atmosphere.