The Florence Fragment Collection

The Uffizi Gallery after the flood. Photographed by the Uffizi staff.

To view the entire collection on the online gallery, click here.

Read "L’artista irlandese che trasforma in opere d’arte e arredo frammenti dell’alluvione di Firenze del ’66," the Florence Fragment Collection's recent feature with Artribune here.

 

Jean O’Reilly Barlow, former Irish supermodel and the artist and founder of Interi, has created works of art that will debut with the notable Italian museum. This is a collection of historical fragment artifacts found and saved from the infamous Florence flood of 1966 which was the worst flood the city had faced since the Renaissance. After days of severe and heavy rainfall, the Arno River flooded and submerged the Tuscan streets. Along with the irreplaceable masterpieces of art and rare books, tons of mud and rubble severely damaged or destroyed the artifacts in the very churches they adorned. These pieces have now been transformed into sculptural works of art. The exhibition will take place during the 58th anniversary of the historic flood which occurred on November 4th, 1966.

The History Behind the Florence Fragments

 On November 4th, 1966, the city of Florence faced the worst flood recorded since the Renaissance. After days of severe and heavy rainfall, the Arno River flooded and submerged the Tuscan streets. Along with the thousands of masterpieces of art and rare books, tons of mud and rubble severely damaged or destroyed the artifacts in the very churches they adorned.

Volunteers carry "Christ and the Wife of Zebedee" by Matteo Rosselli to safety past the replica David in the Piazza della Signoria, 1966 by David Lees.

After learning more about the history of the event and finding fragments from the flood, Barlow had an idea to collect and transform the artifacts into art. Once decoration and artistic depictions that adorned churches throughout Florence, these 17th and 18th century fragments had been significantly distressed from the mud and water and were deemed “beyond restoration.” But there is still the original paint and silt left on the pieces to uphold the integrity, craftsmanship, and history of sculptural fragments. The collection is proof that there is more beauty to uncover - bringing forth a new era and context of "modern mud angels."
Florence fragments as they were found

The collection of distressed ecclesiastical relics have been preserved and transformed by Barlow using natural specimens from all around the world to create historical yet contemporary sculptural works. By incorporating the rare minerals, it looks as though the pieces evolved together over time. The pieces also emulate a deeper message of restoration that captures the bigger mission behind Interi.
Florence Fragments
Florence Fragments
Florence Fragments
Florence Fragments

"While many of our fragment artifacts are distressed due to age, these Florence fragments stand apart. They symbolize a history that has been carried through the streets of Italy, to the storehouse, then my studio, and now to the museum and the modern home," says Barlow.

Each one has been recreated and reveals a new interpretation. What was submerged and stripped of its color and meaning still retains its history and beauty. What was weathered and worn is now reimagined and reborn. What was lost is now found.

The last Florence Fragment exhibition premiered on October 12th with the Museo de’ Medici and closed November 10th, 2024. The Museo de' Medici or “The Medici Museum” is located in the monumental Rotonda Brunelleschi which was designed in 1432 and built by Filippo Brunelleschi, a famous Italian architect who also built the Florence dome. He is also considered a founding father of Renaissance architecture. The Museo de’ Medici is devoted to preserving the history of the Medici family and exhibiting precious collections, works of art, historical relics, original documents, faithful reconstructions and multimedia installations.

“I was honored to present this collection with the Museo de’ Medici in the city where the pieces found their origin and precious history,” says Barlow. “This collection is to honor the history of Florence and to show the beauty and resilience the city holds. It is the birthplace of the Renaissance, and this collection pays tribute to the rebirth after the flood.” 

 

Discover the history behind the Florence Fragments by watching our short form documentary on display at the exhibition. 

 

 

 Watch Interi's interview with Sara Raba, a former art history professor and a Florence native who lived through the Florence Flood of 1966. She shares her story of the most devastating flood to hit the city since the Renaissance and how it changed how we see art and preservation today.