Bargello

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For the type of embroidery, please visit Bargello (needlework)

The Bargello, also known as the Bargello Palace or Palazzo del Popolo (Palace of the People) is a former barracks and prison, now an art museum, in Florence, Italy.

The word bargello appears to come from the late latin bargillus [from Goth bargi and German burg]: castle or fortified tower. During Italian Middle Ages it was the name given to a military captain in charge of keeping peace and justice (hence "Captain of justice") during riots and uproars. In Florence he was usually hired from a foreign city to prevent any appearance of favoritism on the part of the Captain. The position could be compared with current Chief of police. The name Bargello was extended to the building which was the office of the captain.

The Bargello palace was built to house first the Capitano del Popolo and later, in 1261, the Podestà, the highest magistrate of the Florence City Council, Italy. This Palazzo del Podestà, as it was originally called, is the oldest public building in Florence. This austere crenellated building served as model for the construction of the Palazzo Vecchio. Afterwards in 1574, the Medici dispensed with the function of the Podestà and housed the bargello, the police chief of Florence, in this building, hence its name.<ref name=arch>Zucconi, Guido (1995). Florence: An Architectural Guide, November 2001 Reprint, San Giovanni Lupatoto, Verona, Italy: Arsenale Editrice, 38. ISBN 88-7743-147-4.</ref> It was employed as a prison; executions took place in the Bargello's yard until they were abolished by Grand Duke Peter Leopold in 1786. It remained the headquarters of the Florentine police till 1865.

The original two-story structure was built alongside the Volognana Tower in 1256. The third story, which can be identified by the smaller blocks used to construct it, was added after the fire of 1323. The building is designed around an open courtyard with an external staircase leading to the second floor. An open well is found in the center of the courtyard.<ref name=arch/>

Since 1865 it has become a national museum (Museo Nazionale del Bargello)<ref name=arch/>, displaying the largest Italian collection of gothic and Renaissance sculptures (14–17th century).

The museum held masterpieces by Michelangelo, such as his Bacchus, Pitti Tondo (or Madonna and Child), Brutus and David-Apollo.<ref name=mich>Sala di Michelangelo e della scultura del Cinquecento. Bargello National Museum. Ministry of Cultural Heritage. Retrieved on July 24, 2006.</ref>

Its collection includes Donatello's David and St. George Tabernacle<ref name=don>Salone di Donatello e della Scultura del Quattrocento. Bargello National Museum. Ministry of Cultural Heritage. Retrieved on July 24, 2006.</ref> , Vincenzo Gemito's Pescatore ("fisherboy")<ref>Il Cortile. Bargello National Museum. Ministry of Cultural Heritage. Retrieved on July 24, 2006.</ref>, Jacopo Sansovino's Bacco<ref name=mich/>, Giambologna's L’Architettura<ref>Verone. Bargello National Museum. Ministry of Cultural Heritage. Retrieved on July 24, 2006.</ref> and his Mercurio<ref name=mich/> and many works from the Della Robbia family<ref>Cappella di Maria Maddalena e Sagrestia. Bargello National Museum. Ministry of Cultural Heritage. Retrieved on July 24, 2006.</ref><ref name=don/><ref>Sala di Giovanni della Robbia. Bargello National Museum. Ministry of Cultural Heritage. Retrieved on July 24, 2006.</ref><ref>Sala di Andrea della Robbia. Bargello National Museum. Ministry of Cultural Heritage. Retrieved on July 24, 2006.</ref>. Benvenuto Cellini is represented with his bronze bust of Cosimo I.<ref name=mich/>

The museum also has a fine collection of ceramics, textile, tapestries, ivory, silver, armours and old coins.

Image:Ghiberticompetition.jpg

It also features the competing designs on Isaac's Sacrifice (Sacrificio di Isacco) that were performed by Lorenzo Ghiberti <ref name=don/> and Filippo Brunelleschi<ref name=don/> to win the contest for the second set of doors of the Florentine Baptistry (1401).

Honolulu Hale's interior courtyard, staircase, and open ceiling were modeled after the Bargello.<ref>Historic Honolulu (The Capitol District). City and County of Honolulu (October 10 2003). Retrieved on July 24, 2006.</ref>

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