Photographer curates portfolio on ‘wine doors of Florence’

A photographer is set to launch a new exhibition of images taken of hundreds of ancient “wine doors” spread across Florence, Italy.

Andrew Barrow, the photographer who curated the Wine Doors of Florence exhibition, said it is is “symbolic of the history within the buildings. In our digital age, where instant gratification comes at the expense of appreciating the beauty and history around us, these seemingly insignificant doors act as an arras separating us from what came before.”

During the Medici period in 1559, a law in Firenza (now Italy) authorised producers to sell wine from family estates directly to the general public via the cantina or basement of their palazzi.

The doors were created in order for the citizens of Florence to purchase local wine, directly from the producer.

“There are 167 documented remnants of the doors within the city. The passing of time has meant that many are lost, some have been repurposed as restaurant menu shelves, door intercoms or letter boxes, others are evolving as a canvas illuminated with street art; while several are seemingly vandalised, as they fight for space with air-conditioning ducts and gas-meters.”

The collection will be launched at an exhibition, which takes place on Saturday, 20 April 2019 from 3pm-9pm and on Sunday, 21 April 2019 from 12.30pm-4.30pm at St Peter’s Church, Wallingford.