The Medici Dynasty. Family Portraits

The city of Florence was born on the banks of the Arno river in central Italy in ancient times, but it would be the wealth and command of the Medici dynasty that ‘ruled’ the city for more than three centuries that empowered the city to reach its enduring destiny as ‘citt d’arte’ par excellence.

Their enormous wealth was consolidated in the Medici banks of the 1400s. Their quintessential patronage of the arts in the Renaissance is legendary. In the 1500s, their ‘de facto’ political influence was transformed into lasting hereditary political power. The Medici legacy was embodied in the family’s many sons, daughters and descendants – Grand Dukes, Queens of France, Popes and Cardinals – all and always great patrons of the arts.

Portrait painting was but one of the many genres of art that they embraced for generations. It served them well as they ruled the Duchy of Tuscany for generations.

Organized by Contemporanea Progetti, this exhibition of 60+ original Medici portraits and Renaissance objects from a venerable, Florentine museum, unfolds on parallel paths, enhanced by graphic and multimedia elements. On one track, it traces the vicissitudes of this illustrious dynasty – stories of war, love, betrayal and family secrets. On another it investigates and exemplifies the history, purpose and nuances inherent to the genre of portrait painting.