Antonio Paolucci, one of Italy's greatest art historians and museum curators, died in Florence at the age of 84, sources said on Monday.
The Rimini native was culture minister in the government of Lamberto Dini between January 1995 to May 1996.
He was in charge of Florence's museums for almost 20 years before being made as Director of the Vatican Museums by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007. He served there until his retirement 10 years later.
His publications included works on Piero della Francesca, Michelangelo, Filippo Lippi, Bronzino, Giambologna, and the Sistine Chapel.
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