Free Republic

talian eco-zealots glue their hands to Botticelli's masterpiece Primavera at a Florence art gallery in the latest climate change stunt inspired by Just Stop Oil vandals. Three environmental activists attached themselves to the glass cover of the iconic renaissance painting in the Sala Botticelli of the Uffizi Gallery in Italy at 10:30am on Friday. The protest was carried out by an unnamed man and two women - from the climate activist group Ultima Generazione 'Last Generation' - who rolled out a banner in front of them that read: 'Last Generation No Gas No Coal'. The activists, who had paid for...

Shrouded within the park of Villa Demidoff, in Medici Villas (Unesco World Heritage List, 2013), Pratolino, Vaglia, Tuscany, just 7 miles north of Florence, Italy, there sits a gigantic 16th century sculpture - 14-meter-tall masterpiece statue - known as Colosso dell'Appennino, or the Appennine Colossus. The brooding structure was first erected in 1580 by Flemish sculptor Giambologna, pseudonym of Jean de Boulogne (Douai, 1529 - Florence, 1608).Created between 1579 and 1580, the statue was included in Francesco I de’ Medici’s collection of natural and artificial wonders, and ended up costing twice as much as the works needed to complete the...

The hidden gems, which depict Ferdinando I and Cosimo II de Medici, were discovered during an expansion project. ...According to the museum, an unknown person “protected” the Cosimo II artwork before it was plastered over. “Maybe this unknown savior wanted it to be preserved for the future generations,” the spokesperson said. “Obviously our researchers are already trying to figure out the story behind this.” In addition, workers also found previously hidden ant motifs adorning the walls and ceiling vault in a nearby room. The decorative work was likely carried out during the 18th century, during the reign of Pietro Leopoldo...

Raphael died in Rome 500 years ago today. Rome was to have been the focal point in the global celebrations of the 500th anniversary of the death of the High Renaissance artist and architect Raphael, hosting an "unprecedented" exhibition, the greatest Raphael show the world had ever seen. The Raphael exhibition saw a boom in the purchase of pre-sale tickets, with thousands of people around the world planning a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Italy to see the groundbreaking show, featuring no less than 100 paintings by the Renaissance master, with 40 masterpieces on loan from the Uffizi in Florence. Raphael's much-anticipated...