Shirley Smith
Renaissance Art Historian
Tel. +44 (0)1728 638 271
Email. shirleypamsmith@gmail.com
Address.
The Garden House, Bruisyard,
Saxmundham, Suffolk, IP17 2ED
Florence under the Medici: From Republicans to Royalty
Donatello David (front view) 1430s
Image source: Web Gallery of Art
The Medici attained wealth and political power in Florence through success in commerce and banking. By the 16th Century they were autocratic rulers of the Duchy of Tuscany and linked by marriage to the ruling famlies of Europe.
This study day will chart the shift in the Medici powerbase in Florence from Republic to autocratic Duchy by studying their patronage of art
and architecture including the sculptures of Donatello, the paintings of Benozzo Gozzolli in the beautiful Medici Chapel, the mythological works of Botticelli and the building of the Uffizi.
Sandro Botticelli Primavera c1482
Image source: Web Gallery of Art