Gabinetto dei disegni e delle stampe, Print and drawing department at Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy
The Gabinetto dei disegni e delle stampe is a collection of drawings, prints, and engravings housed on the upper floor of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. The works are not on permanent display but kept in folders and drawers, and they can be studied on request in a dedicated room.
The collection was founded by Cardinal Leopoldo de' Medici in the 17th century, who gathered drawings and prints from across Italy and beyond. The space it now occupies was originally built as a theater by Bernardo Buontalenti and later converted to house the graphic works.
The collection focuses on drawings by Tuscan artists from the Renaissance and the 17th century, including works by Antonio del Pollaiolo and Andrea del Sarto. Looking at the sheets up close, visitors can see how preparatory sketches and finished compositions related to each other in Italian workshop practice.
A visit requires booking an appointment in advance by email, so it is worth planning well ahead of your trip. Before writing, it helps to identify the specific works you want to see, as the request should include a list of pieces you wish to examine.
The cabinet has its own restoration laboratory located right next to the study room where researchers examine original works. This means that conservation and research happen side by side in the same building, which is relatively rare for a collection of this kind.
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