Accademia di belle arti di firenze

An art academy in Florence, Italy, it was founded in 1563 by Cosimo I de Medici under the influence of Giorgio Vasari. Its first location was the Church of the Santissima Annuziata. Early Academy members were the "most eminent artistic personalities of Cosimo's court" and supervised all artistic production of the Medici realm. Included were Benvenuto Cellini, Giorgio Vasari and Michelangelo Buonarroti. The first woman member was Artemisia Gentileschi, a Baroque painter. In 1784, all art schools of drawing in Florence were brought into the Academie. There is also an art gallery, which since 1873 has housed the "David" by Michelangelo. Many other notable Renaissance works are on display in the Gallery. Source: Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accademia_di_Belle_Arti_Firenze