Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze unveils renovated Sala del Colosso

The Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze continues its extensive restoration and reinstallation project, which began after the pandemic closure in May 2021. Following the reopening of the 13th- and 14th-century rooms, the newly renovated Sala del Colosso is now unveiled. This room houses Giambologna's large terracotta model of the Rape of the Sabine Women, along with Florentine paintings from the 15th and early 16th centuries. The renovation included architectural-structural restoration, climate control, new lighting designed to highlight the artworks, and blue walls (dubbed "blu Accademia"). During the closure, several works were restored, including Raffaellino del Garbo's Resurrection of Christ, Giovan Francesco da Rimini's Saint Vincent Ferrer, and frames for Botticelli's Madonna of the Sea, Franciabigio's Madonna and Child with Saint Joseph and Saint John the Baptist, and Lorenzo di Credi's Adoration of the Child with Two Angels and Saint Joseph. The Rape of the Sabines, Perugino's Assumption of the Virgin, and Sogliani's Disputation on the Immaculate Conception remained in place due to their size and fragility. A new adjacent room dedicated to the 15th century now displays Scheggia's Cassone Adimari and Paolo Uccello's Thebaid. Director Cecilie Hollberg, assisted by Carlo Falciani, reorganized the paintings by school and aesthetic criteria, using lighter supports and revised labels. The room was previously used for temporary exhibitions.