The House of Pontormo in Empoli

The Casa Natale di Jacopo Carucci (Birthplace of Jacopo Carucci) is located in Pontorme, a hamlet of Empoli, where the artist better known as Il Pontormo was born in 1494 and spent his youth. The medieval building, which was purchased by the City of Empoli in 1995, has been transformed into a museum to celebrate the life and work of one of the greatest painters of the Italian Renaissance.

The museum itinerary is split across two floors. On the ground floor, the multimedia installation “Quiet, Silence and Solitude” offers an immersive experience chronicling Pontormo’s biography and artistic journey, availing of modern technology to recreate the atmosphere and environment in which the artist lived. The museum displays facsimiles of preparatory drawings for the Altarpiece of Saints John the Evangelist and Michael the Archangel, located in the nearby Church of San Michele. Also viewable are a reproduction of the artist’s Diary, which offers a glimpse into his personal life, and some archaeological artifacts found during restoration works on the building. One of the most significant works on display is a replica of the Madonna of the Book, a painting that was widely copied in the 16ᵗʰ century and is one of Pontormo’s most iconic works.

In addition to its museum function, the house holds the International Center for the Study of 16ᵗʰ-Century Art, which promotes scientific and cultural activities, along with the Educational Heritage Section of the Municipality of Empoli that organizes workshops, lectures and seminars. These initiatives offer the public an opportunity to learn more about Pontormo and the historical and artistic context of the Renaissance.

Together, the Birthplace of Pontormo and the Church of San Michele constitute a major cultural hub, where you can explore not only the life and works of Pontormos but also the historical and artistic context of the Tuscan Renaissance.

For information on accessibility: regione.toscana.it