who did the medicis patron

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Who were the Medicis patrons of?

Under Medici's rule, from 1434 to 1737, Florence flourished and transformed into a cultural center of Europe. They were passionate patrons of artists, architects, and scholars, sponsoring masters like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Sandro Botticelli.

Were the Medici family a patron?

The Medici are most famous for their patronage of the arts. Patronage is where a wealthy person or family sponsors artists. They would pay artists commissions for major works of art. The Medici patronage had a huge impact on the Renaissance, allowing artists to focus on their work without having to worry about money.

Who did the Medicis sponsor?

The Medici family is one of the most powerful and influential groups in European history. They innovated new banking systems and laid the groundwork to make Florence a cultural hotspot. Through their political strategy and patronage of major artists like Michelangelo, they created the High Renaissance.

Who did Lorenzo de Medici patron?

His 13-year-old son Giovanni was created a cardinal by Pope Innocent VIII and later became pope as Leo X. Lorenzo used the Medici riches to patronize many artists, including Sandro Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo, and he remains perhaps the most famous patron of all time.

Who were two major patrons of the Renaissance?

In history classes, we often hear about renaissance men: Cosimo de' Medici, Leonardo da Vinci, and Niccolò Machiavelli.

Who was the first Medici patron of the arts?

Giovanni di Bicci de' MediciGiovanni di Bicci de' Medici, (1360–1429) was basically a banker but was also the first of the Medici family to patronise the arts. He aided Masaccio and Brunelleschi by commissioning some of their work. Artists of the time produced works only when they had received advance payments for them.

Did the Medicis fund the Renaissance?

Florence, Italy The Medici, an art-loving family of wealthy bankers (and three popes), helped fund the Renaissance. They regularly hosted artists and commissioned art for their palace and their family tomb — the Medici Chapel — a masterpiece by Michelangelo.

Who were patrons of the arts during the Renaissance?

During the Renaissance, most works of fine art were commissioned and paid for by rulers, religious and civic institutions, and the wealthy.

Are there any Medicis alive today?

Anna Maria Luisa, great-great-granddaughter of Ferdinando I, is the last Medici.

Who was the greatest Medici?

Lorenzo the MagnificentKnown as Lorenzo the Magnificent, the Florentine statesman and arts patron is considered the most brilliant of the Medici. He ruled Florence for some 20 years in the 15th century, during which time he brought stability to the region.

How much are Medicis worth?

According to Chang, the Medicis, as a family, are the 17th richest people of all time, with an estimated worth of $129 billion (adjusted for inflation).

Why is Lorenzo de Medici called the patron of art?

Still, Lorenzo became famous for his art patronage. He used his seat on many Opere in Florence to influence the construction of public buildings, such as the façade of Florence Cathedral. Lorenzo was a follower of Humanist and Neo-Platonic philosophy, which is reflected in his exploits as a collector and antiquarian.

What is a patron in the Renaissance?

While today we often focus on the artist who made an artwork, in the renaissance it was the patron—the person or group of people paying for the image—who was considered the primary force behind a work's creation.

Was a Medici ever a pope?

The Medicis produced four popes (Leo X, Clement VII, Pius IV and Leo XI), and their genes have been mixed into many of Europe's royal families. The last Medici ruler died without a male heir in 1737, ending the family dynasty after almost three centuries.

What was the Medici family known for?

The Medici, an art-loving family of wealthy bankers (and three popes), helped fund the Renaissance. They regularly hosted artists and commissioned art for their palace and their family tomb — the Medici Chapel — a masterpiece by Michelangelo.

Did a Medici become pope?

Pope Pius IV (31 March 1499 – December 9, 1565), born Giovanni Angelo Medici, was pope from 1559 to 1565. However, he was only distantly related to the other Medici popes. Pope Leo XI (June 2, 1535 – April 27, 1605), born Alessandro Ottaviano de' Medici, was pope from April 1, 1605, to April 27 of the same year.

Who was the Medici family in 1512?

Thanks in part to the efforts of Piero’s younger brother Giovanni (a cardinal at the time and the future Pope Leo X), the Medici family was able to return to Florence in 1512. The next few years marked the high point of Medici influence in Europe, as Leo X followed in his father’s humanistic footsteps and devoted himself to artistic patronage. Piero’s son, also named Lorenzo, regained power in Florence, and his daughter Catherine (1519-1589) would become queen of France after marrying King Henry II; three of her four sons would rule France as well.

Who was the elder son of the Medici family?

Another branch of the family, descended from Salvestro’s distant cousin Giovanni di Bicci de’ Medici, would begin the great Medici dynasty. Giovanni’s elder son, Cosimo (1389-1464), rose to political power in 1434 and ruled Florence as an uncrowned monarch for the rest of his life. Known to history as Cosimo the Elder, ...

What did the Medici line do to Florence?

In general, the later Medici line renounced the older generation’s republican sympathies and established more authoritarian rule, a change that produced stability in Florence and Tuscany but led to the region’s decline as a cultural hub. After Ferdinand’s son Cosimo II (who supported the work of the mathematician, philosopher and astronomer Galileo Galilei) died in 1720, Florence and Tuscany suffered under ineffectual Medici rule.

What was the effect of the Medici rule on Florence and Tuscany?

In general, the later Medici line renounced the older generation’s republican sympathies and established more authoritarian rule, a change that produced stability in Florence and Tuscany but led to the region’s decline as a cultural hub. After Ferdinand’s son Cosimo II (who supported the work of the mathematician, philosopher and astronomer Galileo Galilei) died in 1720, Florence and Tuscany suffered under ineffectual Medici rule.

What was the name of the family that came to power in Florence in the 13th century?

The Descendants of Cosimo de’ Medici. A New Medici Branch Comes to Power. The Medici Dynasty in Decline. The Medici family, also known as the House of Medici, first attained wealth and political power in Florence in the 13th century through its success in commerce and banking.

What was Cosimo I's office called?

Did you know? When Cosimo I (1519-1574) moved the Florentine administrative offices into a building known as the Uffizi, he also established a small museum. The building is now the site of Florence's famed Uffizi Gallery, home to many of the great Renaissance-era treasures amassed by the Medicis since the time of Cosimo the Elder.

What was the cradle of the Renaissance?

Beginning in 1434 with the rise to power of Cosimo de’ Medici (or Cosimo the Elder), the family’s support of the arts and humanities made Florence into the cradle of the Renaissance, a cultural flowering rivaled only by that of ancient Greece.

How did the Medici family connect to the rest of the elite families?

The Medici family was connected to most other elite families of the time through marriages of convenience, partnerships, or employment, so the family had a central position in the social network: several families had systematic access to the rest of the elite families only through the Medici, perhaps similar to banking relationships. Some examples of these families include the Bardi, Altoviti, Ridolfi, Cavalcanti and the Tornabuoni. This has been suggested as a reason for the rise of the Medici family.

How long did the Medici rule?

The exile of the Medici lasted until 1512, after which the "senior" branch of the family—those descended from Cosimo the Elder—were able to rule until the assassination of Alessandro de' Medici, first Duke of Florence, in 1537. This century-long rule was interrupted only on two occasions (between 1494–1512 and 1527–1530), when anti-Medici factions took control of Florence. Following the assassination of Duke Alessandro, power passed to the "junior" Medici branch—those descended from Lorenzo the Elder, the youngest son of Giovanni di Bicci, starting with his great-great-grandson Cosimo I "the Great."

How many Popes were there in the Medici family?

The Medici produced four popes of the Catholic Church— Pope Leo X (1513–1521), Pope Clement VII (1523–1534), Pope Pius IV (1559–1565) and Pope Leo XI (1605)—and two queens of France— Catherine de' Medici (1547–1559) and Marie de' Medici (1600–1610). In 1532, the family acquired the hereditary title Duke of Florence. In 1569, the duchy was elevated to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany after territorial expansion. The Medici ruled the Grand Duchy from its inception until 1737, with the death of Gian Gastone de' Medici. The grand duchy witnessed degrees of economic growth under the early grand dukes, but was bankrupt by the time of Cosimo III de' Medici (r. 1670–1723).

Why was Piero de Medici called the Gouty?

He was called "Piero the Gouty" because of the gout that pained his foot and led to his death. Unlike his father, Piero had little interest in the arts. Due to his illness, he mostly stayed at home bedridden, and therefore did little to further the Medici control of Florence while in power. As such, Medici rule stagnated until the next generation, when Piero's son Lorenzo took over.

Where did the House of Medici originate?

The family originated in the Mugello region of Tuscany, and prospered gradually until it was able to fund the Medici Bank. This bank was the largest in Europe during the 15th century, and it facilitated the Medicis' rise to political power in Florence, although they officially remained citizens rather than monarchs until the 16th century.

When did the Medici become the Grand Duchy of Tuscany?

In 1569, the duchy was elevated to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany after territorial expansion. The Medici ruled the Grand Duchy from its inception until 1737 , with the death of Gian Gastone de' Medici.

Who was the richest man in Florence?

Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici (c. 1360–1429), son of Averardo de' Medici (1320–1363), increased the wealth of the family through his creation of the Medici Bank, and became one of the richest men in the city of Florence. Although he never held any political office, he gained strong popular support for the family through his support for the introduction of a proportional system of taxation. Giovanni's son Cosimo the Elder, Pater Patriae (father of the country), took over in 1434 as gran maestro (the unofficial head of the Florentine Republic).

Who was Lorenzo de Medici?

Lorenzo di Piero de' Medici ( Italian: [loˈrɛntso de ˈmɛːditʃi]; 1 January 1449 – 8 April 1492) was an Italian statesman, banker, de facto ruler of the Florentine Republic and the most powerful and enthusiastic patron of Renaissance culture in Italy. Also known as Lorenzo the Magnificent ( Lorenzo il Magnifico [loˈrɛntso il maɲˈɲiːfiko]) by contemporary Florentines, he was a magnate, diplomat, politician and patron of scholars, artists, and poets. As a patron, he is best known for his sponsorship of artists such as Botticelli and Michelangelo. He held the balance of power within the Italic League, an alliance of states that stabilized political conditions on the Italian peninsula for decades, and his life coincided with the mature phase of the Italian Renaissance and the Golden Age of Florence. On the foreign policy front, Lorenzo manifested a clear plan to stem the territorial ambitions of Pope Sixtus IV, in the name of the balance of the Italian League of 1454. For these reasons, Lorenzo was the subject of the Pazzi conspiracy (1478), in which his brother Giuliano was assassinated. The Peace of Lodi of 1454 that he helped maintain among the various Italian states collapsed with his death. He is buried in the Medici Chapel in Florence .

Who was Lorenzo de Medici's grandfather?

As one of the wealthiest men in Europe, Cosimo spent a very large portion of his fortune on government and philanthropy, for example as a patron of the arts and financier of public works. Lorenzo's father, Piero di Cosimo de' Medici, was equally at the centre of Florentine civic life, chiefly as an art patron and collector, while Lorenzo's uncle, Giovanni di Cosimo de' Medici, took care of the family's business interests. Lorenzo's mother, Lucrezia Tornabuoni, was a writer of sonnets and a friend to poets and philosophers of the Medici Academy. She became her son's advisor after the deaths of his father and uncle.

How did Lorenzo help the citizens?

Lorenzo rallied the citizens. However, with little support from the traditional Medici allies in Bologna and Milan, the war dragged on, and only diplomacy by Lorenzo, who personally traveled to Naples and became a prisoner of the king for several months, ultimately resolved the crisis. That success enabled Lorenzo to secure constitutional changes within the government of the Florentine Republic that further enhanced his own power.

How did Lorenzo die?

Lorenzo died during the late night of 8 April 1492, at the longtime family villa of Careggi. Savonarola visited Lorenzo on his deathbed. The rumour that Savonarola damned Lorenzo on his deathbed has been refuted in Roberto Ridolfi 's book Vita di Girolamo Savonarola. Letters written by witnesses to Lorenzo's death report that he died peacefully after listening to the Gospel of the day. Many signs and portents were claimed to have taken place at the moment of his death, including the dome of Florence Cathedral being struck by lightning, ghosts appearing, and the lions kept at Via Leone fighting one another.

What did Lorenzo use for his diplomatic efforts?

Apart from a personal interest, Lorenzo also used the Florentine milieu of fine arts for his diplomatic efforts. An example includes the commission of Ghirlandaio, Botticelli, Pietro Perugino and Cosimo Rosselli from Rome to paint murals in the Sistine Chapel, a move that has been interpreted as sealing the alliance between Lorenzo and Pope Sixtus IV.

How old is Lorenzo in Adoration of the Magi?

The Adoration of the Magi includes several generations of the Medici family and their retainers. Sixteen-year-old Lorenzo is to the left, with his horse, prior to his departure on a diplomatic mission to Milan.

How did Lorenzo rule Florence?

Lorenzo, like his grandfather, father, and son, ruled Florence indirectly through surrogates in the city councils by means of payoffs and strategic marriages. Rival Florentine families inevitably harboured resentments over the Medicis' dominance, and enemies of the Medici remained a factor in Florentine life long after Lorenzo's passing. The most notable of the rival families was the Pazzi, who nearly brought Lorenzo's reign to an end.

Who were the Medici family?

The Medici family were patrons of the famous Galileo Galilei, who tutored several generations of Medici children. Unfortunately for Galileo, the Medici family was not as strong as the leaders of the Inquisition and they failed to protect him when Galileo was arrested.

What happened to the Medici family in 1735?

It was in 1735 that the Medici’s lost control of Florence and Tuscany forever.

Why was Cosimo sent to exile?

Even though the original head of the powerful Medici family, Cosimo, was sentenced to 10 years of exile for trying to stifle Florentine freedom, the richest man in Europe at that time used bribery and well-connected friends to keep him alive.

How long did the Medici family rule Florence?

As history tells us, they were not the only famous or powerful family of the Renaissance era, but they lasted the longest and ruled Florence for roughly 250 years.

How old was Ferdinand when he became a Grand Duke?

He was 10 when he became a Grand Duke and when he was old enough he took over for his father. He was in charge of Tuscany and Florence at the time of the Plaque and Galileo’s problems. While Ferdinand led well throughout the plague crisis, it was not enough to grant him the power to protect Galileo.

Which family became enemies of the Medici family?

Other families that became enemies of the Medici’s were the Pazzi and the Borgia. Both families made accusations and treacherous acts against the Medici family and all failed to be successful. They fell into ruin not long after their failures.

Who was Cosimo III?

Credit: Public Domain Right: Cosimo III, the Medicean grand duke, in Grand Ducal regalia. Credit: Public Domain. The Albizzi family were far more powerful and richer than the Medici but they preferred war to governing and were soon ousted for their war efforts. Luca Albizzi married a cousin of the Medici family which helped bring ...

Who was the ultimate beneficiary of the Medici patronage?

Politics, not money, dominated this city's culture. The ultimate beneficiary of Medici patronage was Michelangelo, who shared both the Medici instinct for making money and the Medici determination to ignore it. His Moses really has loftier things than money in mind.

What is the Medicis family?

The Medicis: money, myth and mystery. They were a family of Florence bankers whose riches powered the Renaissance, yet their art ignores the material world. Why?

Why did Florence go into decline?

The absence of financial imagery in Florentine Renaissance art may even explain why the city went into cultural decline after 1529. The later Medicis completed the change from merchants to aristocrats and even royals. As they made themselves Dukes of Tuscany and intermarried with European royal families, the art and architecture of Florence gradually lost its edge. The moral might be that if money makes art, snobbish disdain for money can kill it.

Why was Cosimo the richest man in Europe?

He was given it because he used the wealth of the family business to reshape Florentine politics.

Which city was most self-conscious about this new idea of art in the 15th century?

The city that was most self-conscious about this new idea of art in the 15th century was Florence, and here in the Sainsbury wing you can see some of the glories of that place and time: the Pollaiuolo brothers' Saint Sebastian, Fra Filippo Lippi's Annunciation, Sandro Botticelli's Venus and Mars.

Who was Botticelli in the Uffizi?

Botticelli was a Medici protege, who portrays himself among the men of this famous lineage in his Adoration of the Magi in the Uffizi. The Medici are among the most renowned art patrons in history, and with good reason. But here's a fascinating thing: they are also among the architects of the modern economy.

Did the Medici paint mythology?

The Medici chose to have themselves portrayed not working at the bank, but in the robes of the Magi. They commissioned paintings not of the marketplace, but of mythology. There is a glaring contrast between the art of Renaissance Florence, with its passionate recreations of classical myth and history, and the raw realism of northern European portraits of businessmen. Hans Holbein's portrait of a merchant surrounded by the instruments of his trade has no equivalent in the art associated with the Medici family. Why is that?

What was the role of the Medici family in the Renaissance?

They innovated new banking systems and laid the groundwork to make Florence a cultural hotspot. Through their political strategy and patronage of major artists like Michelange lo, they created the High Renaissance. Such an extended family has a lot to talk about. Below are five highlights that outline the influence of the Medici family over hundreds of years.

Why are the Medici family called the Godfathers of the Renaissance?

The Medici family are called the Godfathers of the Renaissance because they laid the groundwork for cultural prosperity in Florence. Their major innovations in banking, art, and architecture persist today.

Why did Machiavelli dedicate The Prince to the next Medici ruler of Florence?

Machiavelli dedicated The Prince to the next Medici ruler of Florence as a guide on how to capture and keep control of a state. He did this to get a position within the Medici court, but it failed. Only in 1520 did he re-enter public life, when Cardinal Giulio de’ Medici commissioned him to write a history of Florence.

How did Lorenzo meet Michelangelo?

He praised the young artist’s skill but also teased him by pointing out an error: that an old fawn would not have a full set of healthy teeth. So Michelangelo knocked off a few teeth and showed Lorenzo the piece again.

Why did Catherine de Medici wear high heel shoes?

So she commissioned a pair of high heel shoes, turning them into symbols of wealth and status. This was remarkable in a time where high heels were reserved for butchers who didn’t want to get blood on their feet. She helped to improve and popularize the horse side saddle, so women could ride without exposing themselves.

How did the Medici Bank fix the problem?

The Medici Bank fixed this by inventing Letters of Credit. In practice, this could look like an Englishman paying a London Medici Bank in pounds for an art piece from Florence. The Florentine bank would then produce a Letter of Credit to the artist as proof of future payment. Then, the artist can deliver the work, and take his payout of the bank in his own currency.

What did Cosimo the Elder believe?

Cosimo the Elder believed war was bad for trade and negotiated the end to a series of wars in Lombardy. This helped establish a mutual territory agreement between the states.

Who was Machiavelli in the Florentine Republic?from quora.com

Machiavelli was basically the chief diplomat of the Florentine Republic , which had overthrown the Medici family earlier, and was, in turn, overthrown by them. So Lorenzo knew that Machievelli had worked for his enemies, and didn't trust him. 8 clever moves when you have $1,000 in the bank.

Why did Lorenzo see Machiavelli as an enemy of him?from quora.com

He saw Machiavelli as an enemy of him because he had served the Florentine Republic and had even written a larger work, 'The Discourses,' which argued for a republican government instead of a monarchy.

Why did Machiavelli write The Prince?from quora.com

Firstly, the reason (or at least a major reason) Machiavelli wrote 'The Prince" was in order to impress Lorenzo de' Medici after the Medici family had reconquered Florence and turned it into a monarchy yet again. When the Medici family had regained power, Machiavelli had been exiled, and thus he had hoped that 'The Prince' would make him forgiven.

What was Machiavelli's use of sources?from cambridge.org

Machiavelli certainly made heavy use of these sources for factual data, examples, and stories, and even for some of the interpretive themes that inform the structure of the Histories.

Which book of Polybius is used in the study of Machiavelli?from cambridge.org

For an illuminating reading of this passage in the context of Machiavelli's use of the famous sixth book of Polybius, see Sasso, Gennaro, “La teoria dell'anacyclosis,” in his Studi su Machiavelli (Naples, 1967), pp. 210-14 Google Scholar.

What was the relationship between the beggar and the wealthy lord?from quora.com

So, in essence, their relationship was that of a measly beggar and a wealthy lord indifferent to the beggar's pleas.

Why did the Medicis prosper?

Florence prospered. Because they were part of the patrician class and not the nobility , the Medicis were seen as friends of the common people. After his death, Cosimo’s son Piero (1416-1469) took over. His son, Lorenzo the Magnificent (1449-1492), would subsequently rule during the pinnacle of the Florentine Renaissance.

Why are the Medici important?

Finally in science, the Medici are remembered for the patronage of Galileo, who tutored multiple generations of the Medici children – for whom he named the four largest moons of Jupiter.

How many branches of the Medici were there?

There were three branches of Medicis that successfully gained power – the line of Chiarissimo II, the line of Cosimo (known as Cosimo the Elder) and the descendants of his brother, who went on to rule as grand dukes. The House of Medici produced 4 popes – Leo X (1513–1521), Clement VII (1523–1534), Pius IV (1559–1565) and Leo XI (1605).

How many times was Giuliano de Medici stabbed?

The brothers Lorenzo and Giuliano de’ Medici were attacked during High Mass at Florence Cathderal. Giuliano was stabbed 19 times, and bled to death on the Cathedral floor. Lorenzo managed to escape, seriously but not fatally wounded.

What led to the decline of the Medicis?

These later Medicis became more authoritarian in their rule of the region, which led to its decline as a cultural hub.

Where did the Medici family originate?

The Medici family originated in the agricultural Mugello region of Tuscany. The name Medici means “doctors”. The dynasty began when Giovanni di Bicci de’ Medici (1360–1429) emigrated to Florence to found the Medici Bank in 1397, which would become Europe’s largest and most respected bank.

Who was the first Medici to rule Florence?

As the pope’s bankers, the family quickly acquired political power. In 1434, Giovanni’s son Cosimo de’ Medici (1389-1464) became the first Medici to de facto rule Florence.

Who was the patron of the Medici Palace?

Although Cosimo was the patron for the architecture of the Medici Palace, his son Piero apparently took responsibility for the lavish decoration of its rooms. One of Piero's earliest commissions marks his inventiveness. He employed Mino da Fiesole (1429-84) to carve marble portrait busts of himself and his brother Giovanni. Piero's portrait is a vivid portrayal of the actual features of the man combined with a stoic vitality in his firmly set features and turning head. It was fairly common practice at this time to make life masks or death masks of important people from wax or plaster of Paris; but Piero's bust, finished in 1453, marks the first example in marble to recall antique Roman portraits, a model appropriate for a citizen of a republic. Somewhat earlier medals of rulers, also modeled on Roman sources, may also have influenced Piero's commission. The vertical borders of his clothing are carved with Piero's personal crest of a diamond ring with a ribbon woven through it bearing the /p. 227: word SEMPER (Latin for "always"). The message of Medici permanence rings loud and clear to anyone who might have thought that Medici power in republican Florence was a passing aberration.

Who is Cosimo de Medici?

119: Cosimo de' Medici ... [was] the most prominent citizen that reached manhood in the early fifteenth century. Vespasiano da Bisticci's biography of Cosimo is laudatory and uncritical, but it is an honest evaluation of the man, /p. 120: and depicts him as he was seen by the majority of his fellow-citizens. No modern biographer has succeeded in penetrating the surface of Cosimo's personality, of exposing the man behind the public facade. We can use this facade, however, to measure some of the changes that had occurred in the life style of the patriciate.

What did Cosimo do at San Lorenzo?

SAN MARCO: Cosimo's activities at San Lorenzo were not his only endeavors at church building. When the Dominican order took charge of the dilapidated monastery of San Marco in 1436, Cosimo hired Michelozzo di Bartolommeo (1396-1472) to rebuild it. Cosimo also added a library (which he then helped to fill with books), a cloister, a chapter room, a bronze bell, and church furnishings, including an imposing altarpiece by Fra Angelico (c. 1395-1455), for the main altar.

What was Cosimo's style of living?

The material dimensions of Cosimo's life also reflect significant innovations in the patrician mode of living. The construction of a massive palace on the Via Larga provided the arena for a more refined and luxurious style of existence, which set the pattern for the Florentine upper class. Although Cosimo deliberately affected the manner of an old-fashioned merchant with simple tastes, his living style signalled the abandonment of such traditional virtues as austerity, thrift, and frugality, and the acceptance of ostentation as a socially desirable trait. The new ethic received political sanction with the repeal or the nonenforcement of sumptuary legislation, a characteristic feature of communal policy in earlier times. Seven years after Cosimo's death, his grandson Lorenzo stated that the Medici had spent over 600,000 florins for public purposes since 1434, and he remarked that this expenditure "casts a brilliant light upon our condition in the city." The living standard in the Medici palace was more luxurious than Cosimo's ancestors had ever known. This expenditure for magnificent decor, costly furnishings, and elegant clothing was designed to provide an impressive setting for prominent guests, to create an image of Medici (and Florentine) wealth and taste. Cosimo was host to both the German emperor Frederick III and the Byzantine emperor John Paleologue, as well as other, less distinguished princes of church and state who dined and lodged in the palace on the Via Larga, or in the villas at Careggi and Cafaffiuolo. The Medici were not the only /p. 122: Florentine family to dispense lavish hospitality, but the scale and opulence of their entertainments marked them as the city's most illustrious house. A visit to the Medici household was a dazzling experience, as young Galeazzo Maria Sforza, son of the lord of Milan, testified in letters to his father Francesco. This product of a courtly milieu extolled the beauties and charms of the villa at Careggi, and praised the musical and dramatic entertainments which were provided for his amusement.

What is the central courtyard of the Medici Palace?

The central courtyard of the Medici Palace is strikingly different from the exterior of the building. Here the novelty of the building becomes obvious in the refined classical detailing of the arcade which surrounds the courtyard, and in the sculpted roundels suggesting ancient Roman gems that decorate the frieze above the arcade. Whether Cosimo and Michelozzo drew on local sources for this courtyard or on courtyards that they would have seen in northern Italy during Cosimo's exile in 1433-34, the size, the uniform order, and the allusions to classical forms were new to Florentine architecture.

How did the Medici influence Florence?

Ultimately the Medici brought the city under their influence, without, however, disturbing the appearances of the formal structures of government which had been in place for two centuries. In name Florence remained a republic, while in practice the Medici functioned rather like princes in their rule over it. The Medici surrounded themselves with visual images denoting rulership, although they steadfastly maintained that they were ordinary citizens within the republic. The differences between appearance and reality could not help but affect the art produced within the city.

What is the chapel of the Medici Palace?

The small chapel of the Medici Palace is strikingly ornate. The elaborately coffered and gilded ceiling and the richly inlaid marble floor centered around a porphyry disk form a suitably grand setting for the spectacular frescoes on the walls. Beginning on the right wall of the chapel and moving clockwise around the room are frescoes by Benozzo Gozzoli depicting the procession of the Magi to Bethlehem. With one king and his retinue occupying each wall, the procession directs the viewer to the altarpiece, which depicts the adoration of the Christ Child.

Overview

History

Legacy

Coats of arms

See also

Notes

Further reading

Overview

Politics

Youth

Patronage

Marriage and children

Later years, death, and legacy

In popular culture

Further reading

Treachery and Corruption Follow The House of Medici

Cosimo’s Heirs

The Medici’s and The Roman Catholic Church

• At that time the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) was very powerful. There were few churches if they were allowed to exist, who could rival the RCC. This means that like most other families the Medici’s were staunch RCC adherents. In fact, 4 members of the Medici family went on to become Pope. Giovani, 1475 to 1521, was Pope Leo X. Giulio di Giuliano, 1...

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The Decline of The Medici Power