I have visited the Uffizi once before this year around Easter time. The Gallery was very quiet; the only visitors were school children and the odd American. At this time I was disappointed with the presentation of work and the information available, some signs had bits scribbled out in pen and corrected! The lighting was dull, and glass covering the more famous works made it impossible to see for my own reflection. A lot of works were missing and some building work was going on so I put these mistakes down to it being the off season. However, I was happy to browse at my own leisure without the battle to the front of the crowds.
When I returned in August I could no longer see the beautiful architecture and sculptures, which line the streets of Florence, for the tourists. Also on returning to Uffizi, this time with family and friends, I was sorely disappointed again. It seems that Florence has become complacent with its history and heritage merely displaying the works for profit rather than pride.
Through all this there were some pieces that really made the trip worthwhile and their presence will stay with me for a long time. Caravaggio in particular is a favourite painter of mine. His compositions are so theatrical and the lighting dramatic that they are instantly distinctive from other painters of the time. His style of painting too, his brush strokes differ from that of the over painted, flattened style so popular in the Uffizi. The works displayed of his are Bacchus, Sacrifice of Isaac and my personal highlight Medusa. Artemisia Gentileschi's, Judith Slaying Holofernes, is possibly the most impressive work in the Gallery. It's such a strong and gory image, very imposing and very, very impressive through scale, luminance and detail. Other works I would like to mention are Leonardo da Vinci's Adoration of the Magi, and of course Michelangelo's Holy Family.
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