Consimo Medici
Published on Dec 07, 2015
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Who is Cosimo Medici?
Cosimo Medici was born on September 27, 1389, in Florence. He was an Italian merchant prince and he earned his money by trade and banking. He helped contribute to making Florence an intellectual and cultural place in the 15th century. He did this by bringing back precious goods, such as, art and architecture, from the East and lending money to the princely houses of Europe. He is the one who really wanted to bring art to Florence...
Photo by Old Fogey 1942
Why is he so famous?
Cosimo Medici was so famous because he did so many things to Florence, good and bad things, but mostly good. He was a patron, which meant that he ordered artists to create masterpieces for him. If you liked Cosimo, or even support him your tax bills would be lower than the people who didn't like him. His family owned a successful and famous bank in Florence so when his dad, Giovanni died in 1429, the bank fell into his hands. In 1433 the Albizzi family got Cosimo arrested by saying he was a danger to Florence and to the population. Whilst Cosimo was away, the rival family got so powerful and rich that they tried to overtake Florence...…
Photo by Marianne de Wit
... however, when Cosimo made people drop the charges by bribing them, he left Florence and took his money with him, only to return in 1434 when the Albizzi family was set away and Cosimo gained more power.
Though Cosimo didn't always do the right thing. He made his money sinfully, to make up for it he built a church for the Pope. To allow him to stay rich, he needed God to have mercy for him, he would have to behave in a holy manner.
Photo by Stoic Meditation
Why is he so important to Florence?
The Medici family was extremely rich and full of power, which even allowed them to take over some of the city government. Cosimo was, during that time, the most powerful man of politics in Florence. He was actually as powerful as a king because he had the money, the responsibility, the respect from people and the power, though he didn't want to be known as the king of Florence, even though he was capable of doing so. He also brought peace to Florence by equally exchanging precious gifts and putting a lot of money into the City to make it a better place...
... In addition he banked for the Pope and government. All in all, he was the wealthiest man in Florence and gave a lot of time and effort to his fellow people of florence to make Florence the place it is today.
Photo by imagina (www.giuseppemoscato.com)
How did he bring art and Architecture to Florence?
Cosimo was always one of those men who loved to buy expensive and rare painting/statues but he didn't really like to show it off, legend says that once he destroyed Brunelleschi's model of 'The Medici Palace' as he didn't want other people to be jealous. Medici made the best buildings, putting a lot of money into them, to attract tourists and made Florence a very well known place...
Photo by Smo_Q
...He traded different precious items, for money or other riches, to get the best he could for his City. Cosimo also built the most famous and beautiful churches in the City so that all of his sins would be forgiven.
What famous pieces of art did he buy?
Cosimo and his family supported different artists making then famous over time and sponsor. He mostly engaged Boticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Angelo Poliziano, Christoforo Landino and Francesco Granacci, to develop in their passion. The most famous artists during the Renaissance, also made/produced art pieces for the Medici family. One of the most important paintings for the Medici family was by Sandro Boticelli where members of the Medici family including Cosimo were presented as kings. This art piece was called "The holy three Kings". And few of his are still today known as very famous art pieces.
Photo by jurvetson
What famous artists did he commission?
He commission Lorenzo Ghiberti, Donatello’s old master, to build a bronze a box for Santa Maria degli Angeli to put religious belongings of three early Christian martyrs: Saints Hyacinthus, Protus, and Nemesius. He got an amazing architect, Brunelleschi, to build a hospital and the stunning Duomo for him. In 1439 he commissioned Donatello to build the statue of 'David'. He also ordered the library at the monastery of San Marc, in Florence to be made.
Photo by aboraq
RESOURCES:
WE ALSO USED THE BOOKLET PROVIDED: 'COSIMO DE MEDICI'.
