Uffizi explores wax art's Medici-era popularity in 'Cera una volta' exhibition

The Uffizi Galleries in Florence will present 'Cera una volta,' an exhibition dedicated to the flourishing of wax sculpture (ceroplastics) in Medici-era Florence between the 16th and 17th centuries. Opening December 18, 2025, and running through April 12, 2026, the show gathers nearly 100 works in the new exhibition spaces of the Ala di Ponente on the ground floor. Curated by Valentina Conticelli and Andrea Daninos, the exhibition focuses on Florentine collections of wax art, featuring loans and important pieces returning to Florence after centuries. Highlights include the 'Screaming Soul in Hell' attributed to Giulio de' Grazia and the plaster death mask of Lorenzo de' Medici by Orsino Benintendi. A dedicated room presents Gaetano Giulio Zumbo, the greatest wax sculptor active in Florence in the late 17th century, who worked for Grand Duke Cosimo III de' Medici from 1691 to 1695. The Uffizi's recent acquisition of Zumbo's 'The Corruption of Bodies' will be shown. The exhibition traces the history of wax art from ancient Roman times through medieval ex-votos to Baroque memento mori, illustrating how wax's ability to mimic skin made it ideal for representing bodily decay and the passage of time. Director Simone Verde described the installation as nocturnal, evoking the underworld of lost souls and visions.