The Medici Family

Their Patronage of the Arts and the Rise of Florence

Pre-Medici Florence - Territory

At the end of the 14th century, Florence was ruled by a merchantile elite.

Costly, continuous wars enlarged the territory of the city-state by conquering Arezzo, Cortona, Prate, Pistoia and Pisa.

Pisa’s ports made the Republic of Florence a sea power and major economic power of the West

• Banking was a major source of power and income, and the Florentine gold coin, the florin was so reliable that it was the standard coinage in Europe

• Much of Florence's wealth was dependent on the manufacture and trade of cloth, primarily wool.

The Florin

Pre-Medici Florence - Economy

Florence was controlled by the Albizzi and Pazzi families until about 1438.

(see http://www.pbs.org/empires/medici/medici/index.html )

Pre-Medici Florence – Ruling Families

- The Albizzi family had controlled the republican government for two generations, but they led a lot of costly wars, so the people switched allegiances to the Medici.- The Pazzi family were wealthy bankers that were in a semi-friendly competition with the Medici family. Eventually, they tried to depose the Medicis, failed, and their lineage ended.

Family Tree

Beginnings of Medici Power• Giovanni di Bicci de’Medici

– First of the famous ruling Medici’s and considered founder of Medici family fortune

– Giovanni is considered to be the first prominent patron of the arts

– Giovanni was a leader not concerned with politics, but rather the family fortune and the arts

– Giovanni died in 1429 and his son Cosimo became head of the Medici family

Church of San Lorenzo• In the 1420’s Giovanni di

Bicci and Cosimo commissioned Brunelleschi to do extensive renovation, and it became the first church since Roman times to use the classical style.

• The Church also houses Michelangelo's famous Medici tomb

Rise of Cosimo de’Medici• Became head of powerful family bank, and amassed a fortune

because he became banker to the pope, and his bank also spread to all the important financial markets throughout Europe.

• Cosimo was very interested in a rebirth of classical ideas.

• Cosimo was also a very religious man and much of his patronage of the arts was rooted in his religious fervor.

• Cosimo spent a considerable portion of his wealth on the arts

– Amassed the largest library in Europe

– Supported artists such as Ghiberti, Brunelleschi, Donatello, Alberti, Fra Angelico, and Ucello

• Florence became cultural center of Europe

Artists Commissioned by Cosimo

The Rout of San Romano, Ucello

Use of linear perspective

Secular commission (unusual for early Ren.)

The Nativity, Fra Angelico

St. Mark, Donatello

Fall of Cosimo de’Medici

• Political career in shambles after Florence’s unsuccessful campaign against Lucca– Campaign engineered by Brunelleschi to flood city of

Lucca, containing water with giant dam– Plan backfired when dam broke and flooded camps of

Florence as well

• In September 1433, Cosimo was imprisoned on charges of plotting to overthrow the government

• Cosimo was then banished to Venice, resulting in the loss of Brunelleschi’s most powerful patron

Lorenzo de’Medici• Grandson of Cosimo

• Lorenzo, know also as Lorenzo the Magnificent, was is said to be the most brilliant of the Medici

• Lorenzo was also respected as a very talented Latin poet, and like his family members was very interested in texts of antiquity

• Lorenzo is considered to be the greatest patron of the arts

– Commissioned such artists and musicians as Michelangelo, Botticelli and Verrocchio

– Reasons for this patronage included genuine interest, continuing family tradition, and political motives

– Lorenzo even discovered the talented Michelangelo when the artist was only 15 years old

Lorenzo de Medici, Andrea del Verrocchio

Tomb of the Medici, Michelangelo

Political Ties to Art

• Lorenzo commissioned several French musicians for papal music

• Although did have genuine interest in music, reason for gaining the services of French musicians mainly a political move to enhance relations with France

Decline of the Patronage

• Lorenzo died in 1492, at the moment that a new historical era was beginning

• Lorenzo was succeeded by the fervent leader, Savonarola

Post-Medici – The Initial Fall From Power

Girolamo Savonarola was a preacher who settled in Florence in 1489.

He attacked the tyranny of the Medici family in his sermons, and when in 1494, Charles VIII of France invaded Italy, the Medici’s lost power, and Savonarola took control, putting Florence under extremely rigid control.

Eventually, Savonarola’s followers turned on him, and he was killed.

More on Savonarola: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13490a.htm

Girolamo Savonarola

Cardinal Giovanni de Medici (Pisaro’s uncle) regained control of Florence in 1512 for the lineage.

In 1569, Cosimo III became the “Grand Duke” of Tuscany, after taking over many of the surrounding areas. He ruled with a heavy hand, not very popular.His heirs were far weaker.

In 1737, Cosimo III dies, and both of his children Gian Gastone and Anna Maria Luisa die childless. The Medici line has died out, and Florence is inherited by the Lorraine Dynasty.

Post-Medici – The Final Fall…