Voices of women. The female universe in the Laurentian collections, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, 09 March-29 June 2018

This is archived material. It is for reference purposes only.

Stories written by women, donated by women, and about women are the theme of this female-centric exhibition from the Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana.

Where previous exhibitions focused on displaying the oldest manuscripts, this one has only the female influence in mind. As a result, the time spanned by the works range from 7/6 B.C to the early 20th century. Basically, if a woman’s related to it, it’s in. There are 66 such manuscripts divided into 6 sections chronologically, starting with female-authored texts. These come in a variety of forms: poems, memoirs, public and private letters. Then we move on to texts dedicated to women and finally manuscripts that belonged to women that were donated to the Biblioteca. In the texts, you’ll find a variety of personalities-from well known figures of the aristocracy to unknown nuns.

Although this is the first time the idea of the ‘female voice’ is being explored, at least it’s being explored in depth. The end of the exhibit has a touch screen where you can see the faces and biographies of some of the women featuring in the exhibition, allowing you to put a face to the voice.

Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana

9 Piazza San Lorenzo,  50123 Florence

Opening hours

Monday to Friday,  9.30–13.30

Annunciazione Officium beatae Mariae Virginis secundum usum Romanum Bruges, sec. xv (1455-1460)
Annunciazione Officium beatae Mariae Virginis secundum usum Romanum Bruges, sec. xv (1455-1460)
Margarita di Martino, Letter to Savonarola Florence, May 2th 1496
Margarita di Martino, Letter to Savonarola Florence, May 2th 1496
Lena Strozzi, Letter to Neri di Donato Acciaioli (in Venice) (Florence), 14 June, sec. xiv [1423]
Lena Strozzi, Letter to Neri di Donato Acciaioli (in Venice) (Florence), 14 June, sec. xiv [1423]
Agostino, Della vita cristiana, vulgarization by Andrea of San Gimignano copy by suor Cleofe, Florence, secc. xv ex.-xvi in.
Agostino, Della vita cristiana, vulgarization by Andrea of San Gimignano copy by suor Cleofe, Florence, secc. xv ex.-xvi in.
Saffo, lines, Alessandria d’Egitto, sec. II a.C. ostrakon
Saffo, lines, Alessandria d’Egitto, sec. II a.C. ostrakon

Opening Hours

Monday:
09:30 - 13:30
Tuesday:
09:30 - 13:30
Wednesday:
09:30 - 13:30
Thursday:
09:30 - 13:30
Friday:
09:30 - 13:30
Saturday:
Closed
Sunday:
Closed