Collegio dei Notai (1438-46)

The notaries’ guild commissioned this palace following the demolition of its earlier premises near the Duomo.  (The guild also owned a hospice and an adjacent church that was dedicated to Santa Maria dell’ Annunziata in what is now Corso Garibaldi from at least the 14th century). 

Cardinal Domenico Pinelli partially demolished the Collegio dei Notai in 1591 in order to build Via Pinelli (now Via Guglielmo Calderini) to the left of it.   In 1583, the guild purchased the ex- Sala del Consiglio of Palazzo dei Priori, which then became known as the Sala dei Notai.  It continued also to use the Collegio dei Notai until 1599. 

The guild sold the carved the benches (1462) by Costanzo di Mattiolo from its original Sala dell' Udienza to the Collegio della Mercanzia 1865.

The surviving part of the facade of the palace contains one complete trifore window and part of another in each of its two upper stories.  The arms of the guild (an ink pot and two goose feather quills) can be seen between the lower set of windows.  What was the central portal (1444) was moved to its current location during the partial demolition of the palace in 1591.

Works of Art from the Collegio dei Notai

Annunciation with St Luke (1450s)

This altarpiece, is attributed to Benedetto Bonfigli, was probably commissioned for the Collegio dei Notai.  However, it is first recorded in Santa Maria dell’ Annunziata  (see above) in 1592, a year after the college headquarters had been partly demolished.  It was returned to its original location in 1839 and entered theGalleria Nazionale (Room 14) in 1863.

Return to Walk I.