The Eye of Florence is Opening: New Masterpieces from Paoletti Guitars
Fabrizio Paoletti is proud to announce Paoletti Guitars' most ambitious project to date: The Eye of Florence — a heartfelt homage to his homeland, the wellspring of his artisan spirit and boundless artistic inspiration.
The Eye of Florence pays tribute to the eight 'eyes' that crown Brunelleschi’s magnificent dome atop the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral in Florence. This extraordinary art collection features eight one-of-a-kind guitars, each reimagining one of the dome’s stained-glass masterpieces — created by Renaissance masters Donatello, Paolo Uccello, Ghiberti, and Andrea del Castagno. Each window, aligned with a cardinal direction, sits 50 meters above the cathedral’s marble floor, offering a celestial view into Florence’s artistic legacy.
Under Mr Paoletti's masterful touch, these visions come to life in wood and pearl. Each guitar is meticulously carved from premium chestnut, paired with a Canadian roasted maple neck, and adorned with nearly 6,000 hand-cut Venetian mother-of-pearl tesserae.
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The guitars’ sides echo the floral and sacred motifs of the dome’s windows, while their tops bring each story to life in thematic pairs: Nativity (NW) and Ascension (SE) mirror birth and transcendence; Oration (S) and Lamentation (N) reflect the mystery of death; Presentation (SW) and Resurrection (NE) symbolize the beginning and fulfillment of Christ’s mission.
Donatello’s Coronation of the Virgin (E) greets the dawn with regal grace, while Uccello’s Annunciation (W), lost to lightning in 1828, lives on as a poetic absence — now reimagined by Fabrizio Paoletti, inspired by Ulisse Forni’s homage to the lost masterpiece.
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Each instrument is further elevated by a mother-of-pearl mosaic on its back, inspired by the Cathedral’s marble floor patterns. It features 24k gold-certified hardware and strings, a concealed fine-ceramic pickup, and a hand-carved ebony bridge.
And to save the sweetest for last: hidden within each of the eight guitars lies an authentic fragment of the Florence Cathedral itself — a timeless legacy and a once-in-a-lifetime treasure.
These exceptional guitars will be available for purchase exclusively through Art of Guitar, the prestigious high-end boutique in Dubai and NAMM Top 100 Dealer. A historic partnership established with the successful launch of the project in Dubai, May 24th 2025, intended to bring together fine art, cultural heritage, and luxury craftsmanship in the world of music.
