The Reliquary Chapel
Cappella delle Reliquie
During the Medici period the Reliquary Chapel was a part of the grand duchess's apartments. It was the principal chapel for the entire palace until the consecration of the neoclassical Palatine Chapel in 1785.
Between 1632 and 1784 reliquaries were conserved in the chapel for the private use of members of the grand ducal family. Even today this chapel is the most important of all the chapels that are found throughout the Pitti's apartments. Built in 1565 by Alfonso Parigi, it was renovated by Maria Maddelena who had it decorated with frescoes of stories of the life of the Virgin and Mary Magdalene by Michelangelo Cinganelli from designs by Bernardino Poccetti
The stuccos on the walls and the cases for the reliquaries were restored in 1712. Works by some important Florentine painters were inserted in 1618 in the doors for these cases: the Annunciation, by Fabrizio Boschi (Florence 1572-1642); the Assumption of the Magdalen and Saint Francis of Assisi, by Matteo Rosselli (Florence 1578-1650); Sts. Cosimo and Damiano, by Giovanni Bilivert (Florence 1584-1644); the Baptism of Christ, by Filippo Tarchiani (Florence 1576-1645).
The painting on the altar is by Battistello Caracciolo and is a replacement for an original panel of the Madonna with Child that has been lost.
Between 1632 and 1784 reliquaries were conserved in the chapel for the private use of members of the grand ducal family. Even today this chapel is the most important of all the chapels that are found throughout the Pitti's apartments. Built in 1565 by Alfonso Parigi, it was renovated by Maria Maddelena who had it decorated with frescoes of stories of the life of the Virgin and Mary Magdalene by Michelangelo Cinganelli from designs by Bernardino Poccetti
The stuccos on the walls and the cases for the reliquaries were restored in 1712. Works by some important Florentine painters were inserted in 1618 in the doors for these cases: the Annunciation, by Fabrizio Boschi (Florence 1572-1642); the Assumption of the Magdalen and Saint Francis of Assisi, by Matteo Rosselli (Florence 1578-1650); Sts. Cosimo and Damiano, by Giovanni Bilivert (Florence 1584-1644); the Baptism of Christ, by Filippo Tarchiani (Florence 1576-1645).
The painting on the altar is by Battistello Caracciolo and is a replacement for an original panel of the Madonna with Child that has been lost.
See also:
THE TREASURE OF THE 'CHAPEL OF RELICS' IN THE PITTI PALACE
THE TREASURE OF THE 'CHAPEL OF RELICS' IN THE PITTI PALACE