Bronzino's restored altarpiece in Florence's periphery sparks debate on art access

A restored altarpiece by Agnolo Bronzino, the 'Immaculate Conception' (1570-1572), now displayed in the church of Santa Maria Regina della Pace in a peripheral area of Florence, has ignited discussion about the role of art in suburbs. The painting, Bronzino's last work, was largely unknown even to art historians because it had been obscured by grime and organ pipes. The restoration was funded by the American foundation Friends of Florence. Antonio Natali, former director of the Uffizi, argues in an editorial that the work's location should be celebrated as a way to bring cultural wealth to underserved areas and to alleviate overtourism in central Florence, where crowds flock to Michelangelo's David and Botticelli's works.