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The second mezzanine floor is located between the second and third floors. Here are displayed some of the works that are part of the Martini collection, acquired by the Municipality in the late 19th Century from the Hospital Spedale della Misericordia and Dolce. The exhibit, consisting of several paintings executed between the end of the 17th century and the first half of the 18th century, is partly arranged here by recreating the atmosphere of an 18th-century painting collection.
The collection is a rare example of an art cabinet. It was acquired by the City of Prato in 1897 from the Hospital Spedale della Misericordia and Dolce, thanks to a bequest from the Martini family. This collection combines still lives, floral subjects, epic battles, and stories from the Bible, alternating large format canvases with a series of 'small' works, in the Nordic fashion. The four paintings by Michele Rocca stand out in this room. These include: Nymphs with Flowers, Nymphs with Pearls, Nymphs with Corals, Angelica and Medoro, typical Rococo subjects, the refined Bathsheba at her Baths by Placido Costanzi and the delicate sketch depicting the famous biblical episode of Loth and his daughters, attributed to Benedetto Luti.
A separate section features the centrepiece of Cavalry Battles, painted on copper in the Flemish style, showcasing the panache and fluidity characteristic of Pietro Graziani, who is regarded as one of the foremost specialists in this genre.
Honouring the vedutistic taste of the period, the collection of Invention Landscapes which is attributed to Sister Celeste, also known as Maria Luigia Raggi. A woman of great talent, she specialised in presenting the best views for foreigners on the Grand Tour. Her paintings, always highly original, are characterised by clear, bright skies with wavy, irregular clouds, even reminiscent of porcelain painting. Enhancing the collection is a series of paintings featuring floral subjects, including works by Franz Werner von Tamm, Gasparo Lopez and Lodovico Stern.
