Begun in 1337, the ground floor of Orsanmichele church in Florence, Italy, was originally a loggia-style market before being closed in when the building was transformed into a church. The major guilds of Florence were assigned to decorate the interior of the new church with paintings of their respective patron saints and the exterior with statues. Produced by some of the greatest artists of the Renaissance, including Donatello, Ghiberti, and Verrocchio, each statue reflects not only the socioeconomic importance of its guild patrons but also the changing artistic styles of the day.
Today, the upper floor of Orsanmichele serves as a museum where all but one of the original guild sculptures are on display, while copies of the statues stand in the original niches on the outside of the church. Renaissance art expert Rocky Ruggiero highlights this lesser-known museum and its treasures.
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1/2 credit*
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*Enrolled participants in the World Art History Certificate Program receive 1/2 elective credit. Not yet enrolled? Learn about the program, its benefits, and how to register here.
