I joined the Friends of the Uffizi the very first year (2006) through my great friend,
Daniela Di Lorenzo and for my love of Florence.

As a Leonardo Member I have enjoyed the trips, events, the company of other
members and learning more about Florence and Italian art. Renaissance
paintings are special to me.

Art has always had an impact on me. I was always surrounded by art and
antiques being born and raised in France, as well as for business. That is part of
our heritage and history.

There is so much to look forward to during the Florentine Weekends. Private
visits to museums (Vasari Corridor for example) and being hosted by Florentine
families.

Florentine trips have been purely magical, unforgettable experiences each time.
A step back into the Italian Renaissance on all levels: artistic, cultural, aristocratic
families and even the culinary. Being among other members is always a joy.

I am pleased to have helped start the Friends of the Uffizi Gallery by
conducting pilot projects in 2004 and 2005 with the start of the organization
in 2006.

I am an Italian-ophile and wanna be Italian. I love helping our wonderful group contribute to great works of art for the Uffizi. Art and artists are a big part of our life in our community in Italy where we live in the summer.

As a Leonardo Member, I enjoy the amazing projects being supported and the art lovers in our organization who have all become friends. After all, the first word in our name is FRIENDS!

There are particular areas and galleries that are special to me. I love the Map Room and the Vasari Corridor and can’t wait to see its new recreation.

I always look forward to the Florentine Weekends where we explore new
dimensions of the art and culture of Florence.

The story of our organization’s birth is very interesting and typical of the repeated historical events that have brought Americans to support the Uffizi and the Art and culture of Florence. Our first donation came from Col. Meyers, an American US Army soldier who was injured in WWII and cared for by a family in Florence. He went on to become an art collector in the US and upon his death he bequeathed funds to be gifted to “the people of Florence for causes of art”. Friends of the Uffizi was born from his estate attorney’s quest to find people to contact at the Uffizi, ultimately the Amici degli Uffizi thus the execution of his bequest from Col. Meyers.

I first became involved with Friends of the Uffizi after I met Lisa Marie Browne at
Arturo’s Restaurant in Boca Raton in 2013 and went to my first Friends event at the
Fine Arts Conservancy hosted by Lanny and Gordon Lewis. Their restoration tour and
demonstration were fascinating!

I decided to become a member of Friends of the Uffizi because of my love of art, and I
enjoyed meeting all the incredible members. As a Leonardo Member, I continue to
participate in all the wonderful educational events.

When asked if there are any particular artworks or areas of the galleries that are special
to me, I must say the entire Uffizi Gallery! I am a painter and have enjoyed studying the
renaissance method of oil painting for many years.

The Florentine Weekends have afforded many one-of-a-kind experiences. Of course,
having dinner with the David and visiting the Frescobaldi family and the Vasari corridor
are some of my favorites. There are so many wonderful memories, but there isn’t
enough time in this day to tell all.

I joined Friends of the Uffizi in 2012 as a member of the Advisory Board. I decided to become involved based on my opportunity and desire to support an institution of worldwide importance sited in Florence, a city that I had come to know and love.

I followed my wife, who is an artist, into visual art, beginning in the mid-70’s. Since then, we have created a collection of mostly contemporary art that is truly a source of joy. We have both been very involved with arts institutions in Cleveland and Miami, and I have had wonderful professional experiences working with artists as an attorney.

I have most enjoyed making new friends within the Friends network. Being with friends and visiting the Uffizi with its Director, Eike Schmidt, whose friendship is an extraordinary dividend yielded by my association with the Friends. I can’t get over the two Botticelli masterpieces, Primavera and Birth of Venus.

My favorite, most vivid memory of my time in Florence with the Friends was actually in the Academia, not the Uffizi, seated for dinner beside Friends President, Contessa Maria Vittoria Colonna Rimbotti, beneath the Michelangelo David. Unforgettable!

I had the privilege to join the Friends of the Uffizi Gallery at its inception and have since then happily been part of the organization.

Having been born, raised and educated in Milan, I have been imbued with pride that Italy is the epicenter of Western Civilization and Florence its apogee. The Uffizi, of course, is the jewel of Florentine cultural preservation and the world’s most important Renaissance museum.

Deciding to join this wonderful foundation was natural to me and I have been enjoying all the perks offered to members. Being a Leonardo member, what I enjoyed the most is seeing first-hand the restorations we accomplished.

Throughout the years I attended several Florentine weekends and every single time it feels like once in a lifetime experience! Not only do we have the privilege to have private tours behind closed doors of the Uffizi Gallery and Pitti Palace (given by the Director Eike Schmidt) but also attending exclusive events/dinner parties in private Palazzos and experience the best Florence has to offer. Having dinner at the Accademia Museum in the room where the David by Michelangelo stands, was a truly memorable experience.

To support the legacy of Lorenzo The Magnificent and enjoy the companionship of the Friends has been a joy. In particular has been the inspiration derived from the restorations, lectures, and education the Friends brings to so many.