Uffizi Director Eike Schmidt Proposes Returning Artworks to Churches as Part of 'Diffused Museum' Concept
Eike Schmidt, who heads the Uffizi galleries in Florence, is set to return artworks to smaller venues and churches, fostering a decentralized approach to cultural heritage. This effort aligns with the 'museo diffuso' concept, which seeks to reduce congestion in major cultural institutions. The initial artwork slated for return is Duccio di Buoninsegna's Madonna Rucellai (1285), which has been housed in Santa Maria Novella church for over 600 years. Schmidt emphasized that many pieces from the Uffizi were taken from local communities during historical events and have not been restored. The relevance of decentralized models has increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Regional efforts in Veneto and Emilia Romagna are considering similar strategies, while critics such as Vittorio Sgarbi support returns to Naples's San Domenico church. The Uffizi reopened on 3 June, following Palazzo Pitti's reopening on 27 May.
Key facts
- Eike Schmidt is the director of the Uffizi galleries in Florence.
- Schmidt announced plans to return artworks to churches and smaller venues to promote pluralism in the cultural sector.
- The concept of the 'museo diffuso' (diffused museum) originated from architectural theorists in the 1970s and has been revived by Antonio Paolucci.
- The first artwork proposed for return is Duccio di Buoninsegna's Madonna Rucellai (1285) to Santa Maria Novella church.
- Many works in the Uffizi were removed from local communities during historical events like the suppression of monasteries (17th–19th centuries), World War II, and the 1966 Arno River floods.
- The Uffizi reopened on 3 June 2020, following the Palazzo Pitti's reopening on 27 May 2020.
- Regional initiatives in Veneto and Emilia Romagna are developing decentralized museum models.
- Vittorio Sgarbi has called for the return of Caravaggio's The Flagellation of Christ (1607) and Titian's Annunciation (1557) to Naples's San Domenico church.
Entities
Artists
- Duccio di Buoninsegna
- Giotto
- Cimabue
- Caravaggio
- Titian
- Antonio Paolucci
- Vittorio Sgarbi
- Eike Schmidt
- Sylvain Bellenger
- Jamie Mackay
Institutions
- Uffizi galleries
- Palazzo Pitti
- Vatican Museums
- Santa Maria Novella
- Capodimonte museum
- San Domenico
- The New Statesman
- openDemocracy
- TLS
- Guardian
- Verso Books
- ArtReview
Locations
- Florence
- Italy
- Urbino
- Veneto
- Emilia Romagna
- Naples
- France
- Britain
- Tuscany
- Arno river