In the 19th century, Florence was home to several prominent collectors who dedicated their lives, resources, and energy to seeking rare, unique, and precious objects. Through extensive networks, antique markets, and auctions, these passionate individuals amassed impressive collections. Today, many of these fascinating collections are on display in various Florentine museums, some well-known and prestigious, others less familiar to the general public.
Several Florentine museums showcase these valuable collections, gathered by enthusiastic collectors, each reflecting personal tastes and interests. Donated to the public for broader appreciation, these collections have remained intact, avoiding the potential dispersion of their objects.
The guided tour can be structured in various ways, ranging from a single museum to multiple museums over the course of a day or in different stages, following the overarching theme of 19th-century collecting.
Below is an overview of the museums to visit, including brief descriptions of the collections and their creators.
A Refined English Collector in Florence: Herbert Percy Horne
The Horne Museum is located in the Santa Croce district, a short walk from the Ponte alle Grazie. Housed in the historic Palazzo Corsi, the museum was purchased in 1911 by English architect and art historian Herbert Percy Horne. He envisioned it as a space to preserve and exhibit his collection of paintings, sculptures, drawings, and Renaissance-era furnishings. Upon his death in 1916, Horne bequeathed his collection to the Italian state. Horne, deeply passionate about Italian Renaissance art, first came to Florence in 1889 and returned in 1894 to write an essay on Botticelli for a series on great masters. Despite limited financial means, he assembled a collection of remarkably valuable and historically significant pieces, now showcased at the museum. The highlight is Giotto’s panel painting of Saint Stephen, alongside works by Bernardo Daddi, Beccafumi, Pietro Lorenzetti, and Dosso Dossi. The museum recreates the ambiance of a Renaissance noble residence with tables, chairs, chests, ceramics, and kitchen utensils.
19th-Century Collections at the Bargello National Museum
The Bargello Museum features a distinguished private collection bequeathed to Florence by Louis Carrand. The son of antiquarian Jean Carrand, Louis died in Florence in 1888, leaving his collection to the city with the stipulation that it be housed in the Bargello. This eclectic collection reflects the taste of its creator, encompassing goldsmithing, Limoges enamels, metalwork, locks, buckles, Indian artifacts, paintings, marble and terracotta sculptures, and furniture. Carrand had a special affinity for “minor arts.” The Byzantine goldsmith works showcase sophisticated techniques (granulation and filigree) and forms (brooches, jewelry), using diverse materials such as gold, precious stones, and pearls. The collection includes 265 ivory pieces spanning the 5th to 17th centuries, including sacred diptychs, bookbinding plaques, ornate caskets, crucifixes, pyxes, and hunting horns.
Two additional collections were added to the museum in 1899: Costantino Ressmann’s arms collection and Baron Giulio Franchetti’s antique textiles.
Costantino Ressmann, an Italian diplomat and politician born in Trieste, amassed his collection during work-related travels. He bequeathed 280 pieces to the Bargello, now displayed in the Islamic Room and the Armory Room.
Baron Giulio Franchetti of Livorno spent over 40 years assembling an extraordinary collection of ancient textiles. The collection includes Ottoman velvets featuring crimson backgrounds with gold and silver-threaded patterns.
Eclecticism and Antique Markets: Frederick Stibbert
The Stibbert Museum is located outside Florence’s historic center in Montughi, in a building Frederick Stibbert developed by merging earlier structures. Born near Florence’s Duomo to a Norfolk family, Stibbert inherited immense wealth early in life. He traveled extensively and invested heavily in acquiring art objects, creating a striking and original display in his Florentine residence. The museum features rooms such as the “Malachite Room,” the “Moorish Room,” the “Cantagalli Loggetta,” and the “Armory Hall.” Stibbert died in 1906, leaving his estate to Britain with the stipulation that it could also benefit Florence. Today, the museum is managed by a Florentine foundation. A visit to the Stibbert Museum offers a unique and unexpected experience, showcasing costumes and arms—his primary interests—that are unparalleled in Florence’s museum scene. This exploration of 19th-century collectors and their legacies offers an engaging and enriching journey through some of Florence’s hidden treasures.