Stibbert museum

Museo Stibbert

The museum was founded by Frederick Stibbert (1836 - 1906). His father was English and his mother Italian and he received his education in England. The Stibbert family's extreme wealth came from Frederick's grandfather, Giles Stibbert, who was the commander in chief for the British East India Company in Bengal at the end of the 18th Century and ruled as governor for many years. Frederick Stibbert inherited the entire estate from his grandfather and did not work for the rest of his life. Instead of working, Frederick Stibbert dedicated his life to collecting various objects, antiques, and artifacts and turned his villa into a museum. When the size of the collections outgrew the villa, Stibbert hired architect Giuseppe Poggi, painter Gaetano Bianchi and sculptor Passaglia to add on rooms.

In 1906, when Stibbert died, his collection was given to the city of Florence and was opened to the public.