A massive amount of families can be contributed to the success of the Italian Renaissance through acts of patronage. Among these families is the house of Medici, who can ultimately be held accountable for the patronage of artists such as Michelangelo and Botticelli. Although the Medici family was responsible for such sponsorships, they were ultimately evil because of their gain of power through deception, absolute control, and plutocracy. This can be proven by the lives of Cosimo de’ Medici, Lorenzo de’ Medici, Giovanni de’ Medici, and Giuliano de’ Medici. Firstly, the Medici were evil because of their usage of inaccuracies to gain power. The Medici family gained power through the Medici Bank, which allowed them to be a part of growing …show more content…
In turn, this gave the Medici support and fame across Italy at the time. The first person who decided to do this was Cosimo de’ Medici. Cosimo gained massive support for such sponsorships towards Donatello and Brunelleschi. These sponsorships can ultimately be represented as an act of support towards the growing Renaissance, but ultimately were just a way for Cosimo to gain power over the city of Florence. Cosimo continued to do this until the end of his days, and passed on the idea of sponsorship for personal gain to his grandson, Lorenzo de’ Medici. Lorenzo, like his grandfather, also believed in the usage of sponsorship for personal gain, and began to hire other famous artists and sculptors like Michelangelo and Botticelli to help spread his image across Italy. Lorenzo also continuously lied to the citizens of Florence, giving them false hope of a candidate who was humble and giving as to gain a position of power over Florence. After Lorenzo was elected, it became increasingly obvious that Lorenzo was deceitful, as he began to use tax money for personal luxuries. Lorenzo, like his grandfather, passed on these principles to his children, Giovanni and Giuliano. The two brothers are most …show more content…
In the case of Cosimo, he was responsible for the expulsion of the Albizzi Clan, a powerful family dating back into the Dark Ages, from the city of Florence, along with lynching any and all supporters of the Albizzi in Florence. Although mildly justified, as the Albizzi originally kicked out Cosimo because of his sudden gain of authority over Florence, it is still not justified. Lorenzo de’ Medici had a similar case with the Pazzi Clan, another family dating back into the Dark Ages. In the case of the Pazzi, they had done nothing except loathe and conspire against Lorenzo, much like every other powerful family in Florence at the time. Members of the Pazzi family were hung in the Palazzo Vecchio for treason. By far the worst case of a dictatorship lies with Giovanni and Giuliano. During the last years of Lorenzo’s rule over Florence, the city began to become restless and tired of the Medici’s absolute rule over the city. Because of their restlessness, Giovanni and Giuliano were kicked out of the city of Florence. Seeking refuge, the brothers fled to Rome and pled to the pope for support to retake Florence. The pope supplied the brothers with an army to return to Florence with. In an effort to get the city to surrender, the brothers massacred thousands during the sacking of a town near Florence, Prato. Their strategy worked flawlessly, causing Florence to
Under the Medici rule, especially the leadership of Lorenzo de’Medici, art thrived and new revolutionary ideas emerged, furthering the Renaissance in Florence while challenging the stronghold of the church. Florence became an edifice for art and the greatest painters of the time flocked to the city including Fra Filippo Lippi, Verrocchio, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo (Greenblatt 13)...
“I’ll be out of here and away from all you knaves for one time anyway, as not a month will pass before you’ll see whether I’m nobody or a somebody.” The story of Bianco Alfani reflected the nature of 14th century Florentine society where, as Alfani remarked, the election to public office could make or destroy a person. In late 14th century and early 15th century Florence, decreased population and expanding commerce provided a favorable environment for ambitious individuals. The real life examples of Buonaccorso Pitti and Gregorio Dati demonstrated the positive role of ambition in Florence. Pitti, a nobleman had an extremely successful career, partaking in military campaigns, holding public office in Florence and being an ambassador to foreign courts. Gregorio Dati, the grandson of purse venders, engaged in commerce, rising in social standing which culminated with his election to public office. Holding office was a definitive sign of success and recognition in Florence. In contrast was the tale Bianco Alfani, a deemed man unworthy of office. As told by Piero Veneziano, Alfani was the chief jailor in Florence who was duped into believing he had been named captain of the town of Norcia. Alfani publicly made a fool of himself, spending all his money and creating a great fanfare over his supposed appointment. Comparing the lives of Pitti and Dati to the story of Bianco Alfani illustrates how economic and social change in 14th century Florence produced a culture centered on reputation and commerce. For men like Pitti and Dati, who flourished within the constraints of Florentine society, their reward was election to office, a public mark of acceptance and social standing. Those who were ambitious but failed to abide by the values o...
U Mcllvenna, Scandal and Reputation at the Court of Catherine de Medici, University of Sydney
Venetians on the other hand controlled most of the trade and shipping in the northern Italy. The Medici family ran Florence’s banking and international finance; they were an influentional family in the Renaissance Italy. The Medici family was well accomplished and famous for their banking systems, especially the double entry system. This system was introduced by Giovanni Bicci de Medici. This system made it easy to record credits and debits for the person writing them, while registering money flow, money going in and money going out. The system was also helpful for the merchants since if allowed them to use this to record credits rather than carrying coins and do the trade. The Medici bank was known internationally due the trade and fund transferring; it allowed the Medici bank be the dominant bank in Italy and Europe. Florentines accounting techniques supplied the coating in the Florentine economy. The Medici banking system began the era of credit in economy. Florentines also had strong currency which gave an upper hand to them over other cities. The Florentine gold coinage was considered standard in Europe. The Medici bank branches present in all major cities of Italy, also Avignon, London, Geneva and most importantly
“Cosimo’s grandson, Lorenzo the Magnificent, ruled Florence in a totalitarian fashion during the last quarter century of the fifteenth century”
Around the turn of the 16th century, the state of Florence was in turmoil; the Medici leadership was deposed and the government was ...
who would do anything for the children and the Medici families. They were loving wives as well, but supported their husbands in different ways. Lucrezia supported her husband politically, because he was ill and unable to govern to his full potential sometimes (Young, 107). In comparison to Contessina, who supported her husband emotional, by pleasing him with her house management skills. Their letters clearly illustrate their different personalities, and help historians and readers get a good sense of the change in women emerging in the renaissance.
Lorenzo De Medici can be considered as one of the most influential men of the 13th century. His work in political affairs and administration were renowned in all Italy and his family could count on him in every aspect. Lorenzo was also a promoter of a new period called Renaissance. He was one of the first “mecenate” to explore this new way of art. In this project, I will concentrate how he developed art in Florence, giving a clear example through an Artist of that period that was working for him: Sandro Botticelli. His work “The Spring” is a well-defined example of what we can call “art in the Renaissance”, in particular for the Italian Renaissance.
The Medici family is officially in power. It is 1434 and the House of Medici has been looked up to since the 13th century, but now the Medici family is influencing major change. Due to the family’s support in arts and humanities the Renaissance has taken place. During the renaissance civilians primary focus was the idea that everyone should be educated and participate in arts and science. This change in the way people thought was influenced by the Medici family. The Medici family flourished financially in the 1400’s and continued to gain power politically in the 14th century. Several members of the Medici family created success for the
Through Lorenzo's childhood he was mentored from his grandfather Cosimo de Medici to follow in his footsteps to control the family's rotalty, as Lorenzo's father Piero would soon die from medical issues. Besides being groomed for authority Lorenzo enjoyed hunting, hawking, jousting, writing poetry, and horse-breeding. To get him high class knowlege his grandfather had him tutored by a diplomat named Gentile Becchi who influenced him not only through knowledge but in life too. He also greatly enjoyed learning Greek, Latin, and philosophy. In his teen years Piero made him go on dipl...
The power, prestige, and wealth of the Medici bank allowed the Medici family to obtain their power in Florence in the first place. Though the Medici also participated in the Florentine cloth trade, it was the immense wealth of the bank, and thus the family’s immense personal wealth, that formed the substance of Medici power in Florence. As the bank expanded to include branches in Venice, Geneva, London, Lyon, Avignon, Bruges, and Milan, the international economic power of the Medici increased dramatically. This economic power and influence with foreign rulers, especially rulers like the Pope, who was dependent on the Medici bank for loans, facilitated the Medici family’s rise to power in Florence. , Historians like Manfredi Piccolomini of the Medici Archive Project have also argued that the possibility of controlling or eliminating their domestic banking competition drove...
In fact, even if the Medici family were to be considered corrupt on a personal level, it should not mean that in terms of the Renaissance, they were villains. This is because, although they may have backstabbed and paid bribes in order to gain initial power, they contributed to the overall growth of the city-state of Florence, as well as to the growth of the Renaissance. Although the Medici family may have been considered corrupt, in terms of the Renaissance, when compared to other families in Europe at the time, the Medicis can certainly be considered the great
The Medici Family was one of the most powerful families of Renaissance Florence. They were a banking family. The first Medici bank, started by Giovanni di Becci de’ Medici, was a small scale business run in the bathroom. The bank grew through Giovanni’s extraordinary salesmanship and financial caution (PBS: Godfathers of the Renaissance). He gave out loans to those who they believed would help the bank persevere and thrive. Known as patrons of the arts, the Medici family funded and encouraged art by Botticelli, Brunelleschi, and Michelangelo. Consequential members of the family such as Giovanni de’ Medici, Cosimo de’ Medici, Lorenzo de’ Medici, and Ferdinando I de’ Medici helped to increase the affluence of Florence during the Renaissance.
...y brought in many Greek sources. The Medici's also started the Platonic Academy which supported Renaissance artists by feeding, educating, and providing them with necessities to live. Some of these were well known artists such as Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael. Because of the Medici family Florence became known as the cultural center of Europe and cradle of New Humanism. For a century they maintained total authority in Florence behind the popular forms of a republic.
"Famiglia De Medici: The Extraordinary Story Of The Family That Financed The Renaissance." Business Insider. 6 Dec. 2013. .