Con gli occhi di… Bardini, Horne, Stibbert

edited by S. Di Marco, E. Nardinocchi, A. Nesi

Con gli occhi di… is an itinerary through the historic house museums of Stefano Bardini, Herbert Horne and Frederick Stibbert, three extraordinary figures who lived during the same period—the second half of the 19th century and the first two decades of the 20th—and established fascinating collections of artwork, furnishings and objects in their Florentine homes. It is a journey that probes the artistic sensitivity of three exceptional art connoisseurs who, inspired by different interests but united by their expertise and knowledge of the antiquarian market, purchased masterpieces and transformed their homes into original museums that interpret various facets of the tastes of the era.

All three chose to share their passion for collecting with the city, leaving specific instructions in their wills to ensure that their treasures could be enjoyed by all: the Stibbert Museum opened to the public in 19009, the Horne Museum in 1921 and the Bardini Museum in 1925.

Thirty significant works—ten per museum—introduce visitors to these unusual museums, which form an innovative itinerary through the heritage of Florence. Indeed, the city has benefited enormously from the enthusiasm of the Italian and foreign collectors who, at the turn of the 20th century, devoted their lives to artwork, as they firmly believed that life is in art.