English Version

Help us bring “Angeliche presenze” to life—a unique exhibition that will bring to light previously unseen works housed at Villa La Quiete in Florence. With your donation, we will be able to open paintings, sculptures, and objects dedicated to angels and archangels to the public, telling the story of 17th-century female spirituality and the extraordinary figure of Eleonora Ramirez de Montalvo. Reaching this goal is essential: only then can we unlock co-funding from the University of Florence and turn this project into reality.

Angelic Presences: Art and Feminine Spirituality at Villa La Quiete

Help us open to the public a heritage that has remained hidden for centuries.

With this campaign, we aim to bring to life Angeliche Presenze, an exhibition that will showcase, in the church of Villa La Quiete, previously unseen works dedicated to angels and archangels, which have been kept in the museum storage until now.

The exhibition will open on April 1, 2027, and offer visitors a unique experience blending art, spirituality, and women’s history. But for this project to become a reality, we need your help.

Angels, Archangels, and Unexpected Places

Through the paintings on display, the public will delve into the history of the Montalve women’s congregation, founded in 1650 by Eleonora Ramirez de Montalvo (1602–1659), an extraordinary yet still little-known figure in Florentine history.

Villa La Quiete served as a convent, a girls’ boarding school, and a retreat for the Medici grand duchesses Cristina of Lorraine, Vittoria della Rovere, and Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici, Elettrice Palatina. Even today, it retains a rare, tranquil atmosphere that will make your visit an immersive experience.

Angels and archangels will be the focal point of the exhibition, as they were central figures in the spirituality of the women who lived in these places.

Visitors will encounter Saint Michael, leader of the angelic hosts and weigher of souls, whose image is still preserved in the convent’s historic pharmacy and will be featured in the exhibition. They will discover the extremely rare Uriel, guardian of the gates of Paradise, depicted in the painting as a Medici garden, and Gabriel, messenger of the Annunciation. The guardian angel, a familiar and affectionate presence in girls’ boarding schools, will also be featured.

The works convey much more than religious imagery: they speak of the desires, fears, faith, and visions of women who lived between the 17th and 18th centuries.

Why we’re asking for your help

The exhibition also depends on you.

The works are ready, the research is underway, and the scientific project is finalized. To open the exhibition to the public, we now need to create the display and lighting necessary to showcase it.

Our goal is to raise 12,000 euros.

Reaching this amount is essential because only then can we unlock co-funding from the University of Florence.

By donating, you will not only help bring an exhibition to life: you will also help support young researchers and students, highlight a hidden cultural heritage, and bring a little-known part of the city’s history to light.

The funds raised will be used for:

• 80% – exhibition setup: support structures for the paintings, display and educational panels, showcases, and professional installation.
• 20% – specialized lighting: lighting fixtures designed to highlight and protect the works.

The university's funds will be used to finance:

a professional photography campaign, the exhibition catalog, and catering for donors.

Every contribution brings us closer to the exhibition and to securing the University’s grant.

Help us shed light on these works and let the angels of Villa La Quiete take flight.

Donate now and become part of this project.

A treasure for the local community and for the memory of Florence

The exhibition will enrich the cultural offerings of District 5 and the Medici Villas area (Castello, La Petraia), featuring beautiful gardens like the one at La Quiete, revealing little-known aspects of Florence’s history.

It will explore convent art, female spirituality, education in boarding schools, and the role of women in the city’s religious and cultural life. At the center will be the figure of Eleonora Ramirez de Montalvo, a rare example of female patronage of the arts and the protagonist of a story that deserves to be told.

An Open and Collaborative Research Project

This exhibition stems from the convergence of research, education, and heritage preservation.

The scientific project is curated by art historians Donatella Pegazzano and Maria Maddalena Grossi, with the support of the University of Florence Museum System, which manages Villa La Quiete, whose manager is the art historian Raffaele Niccoli Vallesi.

The exhibition design will be created by architect Francesca Mugnai together with her students, while communication and audience analysis activities will involve also Donatella Pegazzano museology students.

Scientific research will also play a central role thanks to the participation of David Caramelli, anthropologist and expert in molecular investigations, and Marcello Picollo researcher at the CNR, which will contribute diagnostic studies on the works.

Many paintings have already been restored thanks to funding from the University of Florence and are now waiting to be shown to the public.

REWARDS

10 € - Let art take flight: all it takes is a feather!

THANK-YOU EMAIL WITH VIDEO: Thanks to your support, we will send you an exclusive video tour of the exhibition “Angeliche presenze,” narrated by the curators, along with a personal thank-you message from the team. THE GENEROSITY OF THE PATRON: to acknowledge your crucial role in bringing this project to life, your name will be officially included in the list of donors featured in the catalog and throughout the exhibition’s communication campaign, appearing among the supporters who made the event’s success possible.

30 € - Angels, Flowers, and Secrets: An Adventure in the Villa!

The package includes: GUIDED TOUR: of the exhibition “Angeliche presenze” for a family with children, led by specialized staff from the University Museum System’s educational services. GARDEN ACTIVITIES: plant observation and a game inspired by the exhibition’s theme. This offer is aimed at children of all school ages. THE GENEROSITY OF THE PATRON: To acknowledge your crucial role in making this project a reality, your name will be officially included in the list of donors featured in the catalog and throughout the exhibition’s communication campaign, appearing among the supporters who made the event’s success possible

50 € - Join us for the exhibition opening!

The package includes: ENTRY TO THE OPENING: be among the first to attend the official opening of the exhibition. GUIDED TOUR WITH THE CURATORS: a special tour led directly by the creators of the exhibition, offering a behind-the-scenes look and exclusive insights. CLOSING RECEPTION: a convivial moment to celebrate this milestone together, get to know one another, and meet the organizers. THE GENEROSITY OF THE PATRON: To acknowledge your crucial role in bringing this project to life, your name will be officially included in the list of donors featured in the catalog and throughout the exhibition’s communication campaign, appearing among the supporters who made the event’s success possible. The event will take place on April 1, 2027, in the ground-floor hall of Villa La Quiete

70 € - An Experience of Art and Angelic Music for Two!

This package is valid for 2 people and includes: GUIDED TOUR: the opportunity to tour the exhibition with the curators. CONCERT: Reserved seats to attend a concert of early music performed by the University of Florence Orchestra in the historic gardens of Villa La Quiete. THE GENEROSITY OF THE PATRON: To acknowledge your crucial role in bringing this project to fruition, your name will be officially included in the list of donors featured in the catalog and throughout the exhibition’s communication campaign, appearing among the supporters who made the event’s success possible. The event will take place in May 2027

70 € - Angels Take the Stage!

This package is valid for 2 people and includes: GUIDED TOUR: a guided tour of the exhibition “Angeliche presenze,” led by the curators. THEATER PERFORMANCE: admission to a performance by the university theater company Binario di Scambio, featuring an angelic theme and readings of original 17th-century compositions in the Villa’s historic theater. The event will take place in June 2027. THE GENEROSITY OF THE PATRON: To acknowledge your crucial role in bringing this project to fruition, your name will be officially included in the list of donors featured in the catalog and throughout the exhibition’s communication campaign, appearing among the supporters who made the event’s success possible.

80 € - Your year at the University of Florence museums!

The package includes: GUIDED TOUR: a guided tour of the exhibition “Angeliche presenze” led by the curators. UNIVERSITY MUSEUM SYSTEM CARD: this will grant you access to the prestigious collections of the University’s museums (La Specola, the Anthropological Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the Botanical Garden). The card is valid for one entry to be used during 2027. THE GENEROSITY OF THE PATRON: to acknowledge your crucial role in making this project a reality, your name will be officially included in the list of donors featured in the catalog and throughout the exhibition’s communication campaign, appearing among the supporters who made the event’s success possible.

100 € - Find the catalog, find a treasure!

The package includes: THE OFFICIAL EXHIBITION CATALOG: an exclusive copy of ‘Angeliche presenze’. A precious volume to explore the works, critical essays, and stories contained within this extraordinary place, which you can keep in your bookshelf. CUSTOMIZED GUIDED TOUR: an exclusive tour for 2 people, accompanied by the curators who will lead you on a journey to discover the secrets and details of the exhibition, answering your questions in a relaxed setting. THE GENEROSITY OF THE PATRON: To acknowledge your crucial role in bringing this project to life, your name will be officially included in the list of donors featured in the catalog and throughout the exhibition’s communication campaign, appearing among the supporters who made the event’s success possible

500 € - Under the Watchful Eyes of the Angels: An Evening of Art at Villa La Quiete

The package includes: GUIDED TOUR: In the evening, Villa La Quiete reveals its most secret side. Accompanied by the exhibition curators, you will be able to admire the exhibition “Angeliche presenze” and the masterpieces of Villa La Quiete in the evocative silence of the evening, taking in details that only soft lighting can bring out. APERITIF AT THE VILLA AT SUNSET: Before the tour, you can enjoy an aperitif with the exhibition curators. PATRON’S KIT: Upon your arrival at the Villa, you will be presented with the ‘Angeliche presenze’ exhibition catalog and a poster featuring a personalized dedication from the University. THE GENEROSITY OF THE PATRON: To acknowledge your role in making this project a reality, your name will be included in the list of donors featured in the catalog and throughout the exhibition’s communication campaign, appearing among the supporters who made the event’s success possible.