The hall of mirrors in Palazzo Medici Riccardi

Following its acquisition by the Riccardi family, Palazzo Medici
underwent significant expansion, including the addition of a west
wing and the extension of its façade along Via Larga. It was during this
period (1670-1677) that the gallery and library-the principal state
rooms of this Baroque aristocratic residence-were created.
Conceived in accordance with the festive and sumptuous taste of the
age, the decorative programme reaches its climax in the magnificent
vault, the dazzling centerpiece of a luminous and theatrical ensemble.
This extraordinary achievement was the result of the vision of
Francesco Riccardi, the ingenuity of Alessandro Segni, his tutor and
secretary of the Accademia della Crusca, and the artistic mastery of
Luca Giordano (1634-1705), who began work on the project in 1682
and completed it in 1685.
The decoration unfolds as a continuous, densely populated, and
dynamic composition, representing a remarkable illusionistic feat
achieved without the aid of architectural partitions or scenic
frameworks. Once the vault had been completed, work continued
throughout the rest of the gallery. Illuminated by eight French
windows overlooking the garden, the hall is richly adorned with stucco
work and ornamental decoration.
Particularly noteworthy are the mirrors, doors, and cabinets on the
northern side of the gallery. Carved and gilded, they constitute a truly
unique feature in Florence and exemplify the successful collaboration
of Bartolomeo Bimbi, who painted flowers and fruit; Pandolfo Reschi,
responsible for the animals and marsh vegetation; and Anton
Domenico Gabbiani, who depicted cherubs. Their paintings were
executed directly on glass specially imported from Venice, resulting in
a series of works of exceptional refinement.
Drawing on the Guide to Palazzo Medici Riccardi (Officina Libraria,
2021) and the catalogue Luca Giordano: Baroque Master in Florence
(Officina Libraria, 2023), this compact volume offers an exploration of
one of the highest achievements of seventeenth-century Florentine
art