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With the Duomo being the center of things spiritual in Florence, it was inevitable that many of the great artists of Florence would cross paths with it at one time or another, often being contracted to create some sort of decoration for the Campanile, Baptistery or Duomo itself. It was also inevitable that someone would eventually notice that centuries of being outdoors was taking a toll on these decorations, and that it would be desirable to move them indoors for their protection. The Museo dell'Opera del Duomo (Museum of the Works of the Duomo), located just behind the Duomo, was established in 1891 for this purpose. Over the years, many works have been moved to the museum from their original indoor and outdoor positions, with copies often being installed in the original locations. In the museum, the original pieces have undergone restoration where possible and have been placed on display.
Partially-Completed Cathedral Façade
Partially-Completed Cathedral Façade, Bernardino Poccetti (1587)
Evangelists, Formerly from Duomo Façade
Evangelists, Formerly from Duomo Façade

St. John, Donatello
St. John, Donatello (c. 1415)
Nella and Evangelists
Nella and Evangelists

Madonna of the Glass Eyes
Madonna of the Glass Eyes, Arnolfo di Cambio (late 13th C.)
Madonna of the Glass Eyes and Nella
Madonna of the Glass Eyes and Nella

Connie with Doctors of the Church
Connie with Doctors of the Church, Piero di Giovanni Tedesco
St. Sebastian
St. Sebastian, Giovanni del Biondo

St. Sebastian and Quatrefoils
St. Sebastian and Quatrefoils
St. Reparata
St. Reparata, Lorenzo di Niccolò (15th C.)

Reliquary of St. Jerome
Reliquary of St. Jerome, Antonio di Salvi Salvucci (15th C.)
Room of the Porta della Mandoria
Room of the Porta della Mandoria

The Creation of Eve
The Creation of Eve, Donatello (c. 1410)
Madonna and Child Between Two Angels
Madonna and Child Between Two Angels, Andrea della Robbia (1489)

The museum has a central courtyard which is the location at which Michelangelo carved his statue of David (originally intended as a Duomo decoration). The statue, after standing in front of the Palazzo Vecchio for centuries, is now in the Galleria dell'Accademia, which we'll see later. The courtyard is now used to display some statues which originally decorated the baptistery, and some of the original panels of Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise. The original doors remained in place until 1966, but were damaged when the Arno flooded disastrously during that year. The doors now on the Baptistery are copies (very good ones), and the some of the original panels have been placed on display in the courtyard.
The Baptism of Christ
Baptism of Christ, Sansovino, Danti and Spinazzi (1502-1792)
Baptistery with Copy of Baptism of Christ
Baptistery with Copy of Baptism of Christ

Baptism of Christ and Solomon and Queen of Sheba
Baptism of Christ and Solomon and Queen of Sheba Panel
The Meeting of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba
The Meeting of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba

The Fall of Jericho
The Fall of Jericho
Fall of Jericho Panel
The Fall of Jericho Panel

Fall of Jericho Panel (Baptistery copy)
The Fall of Jericho Panel (Baptistery copy)
Abraham and the Sacrifice of Isaac
Abraham and the Sacrifice of Isaac

The Labors of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel
The Labors of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel
The Beheading of John the Baptist
The Beheading of John the Baptist, Vincenzo Danti (1569-70)

Also on display in the museum are a number of drawings and models depicting plans for development of the Duomo, many of which never came to pass but are works of art in their own right.
Designs for Façade
Designs for Façade
Model for Façade
Model for Façade, Accademia del Disegno (1635)

Model of Cathedral
Model of Cathedral
Models for Never-Completed Dome Balcony
Models for Never-Completed Dome Balcony

Model of Dome Lantern
Model of Dome Lantern
Death-Mask of Filippo Brunelleschi
Death-Mask of Filippo Brunelleschi (1446)

One of the most interesting works in the museum is an unfinished Pieta which was sculpted by Michelangelo and intended for his own tomb. Part way through the work, Michelangelo became frustrated due to what he felt was the poor quality of the stone and abandoned it, giving it some disgusted whacks with his hammer. It was later repaired according to Michelangelo's models, and a figure of Mary Magdalene was added on the left by another artist, Tiberio Calcagni. Looking at the statue, it's pretty obvious the comparatively lifeless Mary Magdalene was done by someone else. The hooded figure in the middle represents Nidodemus, and is thought to be a self-portrait of Michelangelo.
Pieta del Duomo
Pieta del Duomo, Michelangelo and Tiberio Calcagni (1547-55)
Pieta del Duomo
Pieta del Duomo

There were two amazing choir lofts on display which were once in the Duomo.
Choir Loft
Choir Loft, Luca della Robbia (c. 1430)
Della Robbia Choir Loft and original Panels
Della Robbia Choir Loft and original Panels

Della Robbia Panel with Donatello Statue and Choir Loft
Della Robbia Panel with Donatello Statue and Choir Loft
Choir Loft
Choir Loft, Donatello (c. 1430)

Some weathered decorations that originally graced the campanile were also on view.
Campanile with Copies of Statues near Base
Campanile with Copies of Statues near Base
Beardless Prophet
Beardless Prophet, Donatello

Habacuc
Habacuc, Donatello
Campanile with Panel Copies near Base
Campanile with Panel Copies near Base

Gionitus, Inventor of Astronomy, The Art of Building and Medicine
Gionitus, Inventor of Astronomy, The Art of Building and Medicine
The Creation of Eve
The Creation of Eve, Andrea Pisano

Original Campanile Panels
Original Campanile Panels

And a few other pieces:
Magdalene
Magdalene, Donatello (1455)
Magdalene and Silver Cross
Magdalene and Silver Cross

The Silver Cross
The Silver Cross (1457-59)
Bust of St. Zenobius
Bust of St. Zenobius, Monte di Giovanni (16th C.)

Restorers at Work
Restorers at Work
Duomo and Scaffolding
Duomo and Scaffolding

Outside Museum Entrance
Outside Museum Entrance

From the Duomo Museum, we struck out northeastward along the Via dei Servi to keep our appointment with David, at the Galleria dell'Accademia.