House of Medici

this claim for that particular painting. A likely purpose for the painting would have been as a spalliera placed above a cassone (i.e. a wall panel placed at shoulder height above a wedding chest) in a wedding chamber, possibly commissioned by the Medici in Florence. Such a painting would be erotic in nature, representing the consummation of the marriage and serving as inspiration for the virgin bride. In this case, Venus simultaneously represents empowerment and subservience. On the one hand,…

Machiavelli or Niccolò Machiavelli was born in Florence, Italy 3rd May 1469 during Renaissance. He was known as Italian or Florentine historian, politician, diplomat, and philosopher. In 1494, there’s one well-known political family in Italy called Medici family—already ruled Florence for 40 years, which removed temporarily from power. Thus, Florence was under control by Girolamo Savonarola a Dominican monk who obsessed to transform Florence into a “Christian City” as he named the city “New…

The Medici family did not always start off with controlling Florentine’s politics and being Florence’s richest family. They were the first dynasty to not prevail their social position by warfare or inheritance but through financial transactions and banking. Not only they are the head of Europe’s largest bank but they dominated the Italian city throughout the Renaissance and beyond from 1434 to 1737. The House of Medici rose to prominence and power around 1291. Together with bringing peace and…

La Primavera was created for the cousin of Lorenzo the Magnificent, Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de’ Medici. It could be seen as some sort token of appreciate for being forced into marriage. The original date of this painting is uncertain but has been narrowed down to between 1477 and 1482. It is documented that this painting was hung in the bedroom of the bride Semiramide Appiani. By understand the background of this painting it opens the door for ample interpretation which is pretty beautiful.…

prince of Italy at the time: Lorenzo De Medici. The Prince is a book about royals written by a commoner who was better informed on the matters of the royals. Machiavelli asserted that The Prince was the aggregation of the knowledge he had acquired over time through many difficulties, sometimes in dangerous ways as he traveled for his diplomatic duties. Within The Prince are chapters on several aspects that Machiavelli felt were important for Lorenzo De Medici to know about princes. The Prince is…

Humanism is best defined as a philosophical and ethical stance that puts emphasis on value and agency of human beings. Humanist individuals prefer critical thinking and evidence over superstition. Humanism came about from the renaissance, the rebirth of Europe after the middle ages. A perfect example of a humanist, renaissance man is Leon Battista Alberti. Born on February 14, 1404 in Genoa, Italy, place were the Renaissance began. Alberti is also known as the quintessential Renaissance…

Renaissance man, he restructured the Roman University, accelerated the construction of St. Peter's Basilica and poured lavish funds into the arts. He was the personification of Renaissance ideals. Having spent his youth at the court of Lorenzo de' Medici, he had acquired the mannerisms and tastes of one of the most brilliant societies of Europe and posed a sharp contrast to the pope whom he…

wipe out the Medici for good, but Lorenzo, although he was injured from the Pazzi attacks, traveled over to the pope and convinced him not to. The Medici were involved with a lot of artists during the Renaissance. Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Botticelli were among these artists. da Vinci and Michelangelo were both prime examples of the “Renaissance Man”, who was a person who had a wide understanding of many different subjects. Leonardo da Vinci was a talented young man who lived in…

Catherine the Great Catherine the Great used to say “I like to praise and reward loudly, to blame quietly”. Which means she likes to praise and reward good, in front of people so everyone knows. But blame is done quietly straight to someone’s face so that it isn’t public. In other words if you do something good I would make sure everyone knows about it. But blame is done quietly straight to someone’s face just them not in public. Catherine was also known as Catherine II. But her real name is…

The Medici’s wealth surpasses everyone else wealth because of the business with the Catholic Church. The Medici family can deny anyone a loan and not worry about consequences. Both families control geographic areas of Northern and Southern Europe. Dukes of Burgundy owned land from Holland all the way to central France. Philip the Bold, father of Philip the Good, gained large amount of territory through political marriages and other strategies. According to Marilyn Stokstad, Philip married his…