Contents
Family Profile
Family History
Founder Family of Wealth Culture
Giovanni Medici
Cosimo de Medici
Art Patron Lorenzo Medici
Renaissance
Political assassination
Memorial painting
. Family profile
Family history
Founder family of wealth culture
Giovanni Medici
Cosimo de Medici
Art patron Lorenzo Medici
Political assassination
Memorial painting
Cultural accomplishment
Michelangelo during the Renaissance. Famous family members
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Medici family Medici Family (also translated as Medici Family)'' Medici Family'' (''Medici Family'''), or translated as'' Medici family'''',''' Medici Family''. The Medicis are descendants of a knight named awei Rado, who captured Lombardy for Charlemagne in the 8th century. According to the legend of the Medici family, it is rumored that there was a giant who threatened his neighbors. When awei Rado heard about it, he entered Mugello, a secluded valley near Florence, looking for the giant and challenging him. When they faced each other, the giant waved his mace and hit awei Rado. awei Rado bowed his head and hid in the past, and the iron ball of mace hit his shield. Finally, awei Rado managed to kill the giant. Awei Rado's feat left a deep impression on Charlemagne, and he ordered that from then on, his brave knight awei Rado could take his dented shield as his personal medal. The Medeci family's golden red ball badge is said to have been developed from awei Rado's dented shield. Another statement claims that, as their name (Medici) implies, they were originally pharmacists, distributing medicines to the public, and the ball on their badge was actually a pill. This statement was always denied by members of the Medici family, and their denial was supported by historical evidence. It was not until some time after the appearance of the Medici Medal that doctors used pills that it became common. The origin of their badges may also be the signs hung outside the shops by money changers in the Middle Ages, which describe coins. Because money exchange is the original business of the Medici family. With the increase of wealth and glory, it developed into a later aristocratic badge. Medici family is a famous family in Florence. The most important representatives are Cosimo Medici and Lorenzo Medici. We can't say that there would be no Italian Renaissance without medici family, but without medici family, the Italian Renaissance would definitely not be what we see today.
The heart of the Italian Renaissance is Florence, and most of the most well-known artists are inextricably linked with this city. When we stroll through the World Art Museum to enjoy the Italian Renaissance Exhibition, and when our eyes pass over the names of Ma Saqiao, Donatello, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Rafael, Michelangelo, Titian, Mantania and so on, perhaps we should know that there is another name that shines behind these renaissance masters, that is-Medici. In fact, many of the works on display were originally collected by medici family, and many portraits and sculptures were made for the members of this family. Even the Uffizi Art Museum in Florence, the main source of the exhibits, is also the heritage of this family.
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The ancestors of this family were originally Tuscan farmers, and later they became rich by running industry and commerce. In the 13th century, he became an aristocrat and joined the Florence government. Salwestero Medici was the first member of the Medici family to go down in history. He was the standard-bearer of justice (the highest judicial officer of Florence * * * and China) when the Carding Worker Uprising that shook the whole Florence broke out in 1378. Family founder Giovanni Diebitsch de Medici
In p>1378, Salwestero was elected as the chairman of the Florence Municipal Committee, but after the collapse of the elected government in 1381, he was expelled from Florence. Giovanni Medici revived medici family, and his bank made huge profits and became the richest man in Florence. His eldest son, Cosimo Medici, once took over the Pope's finances on behalf of Medici Bank. In 1433, due to the failure of the war against Lucca, Cosimo was sentenced to 1 years' exile, but was recalled by the new Council of Elders the following year. He relied on the support of the people to expel the Albizi family. In 1434, Cosimo established tyrant politics in Florence and became the uncrowned Lord of Florence. In 1469, after the death of Piero I, Lorenzo, the grandson of Cosimo, succeeded Florence as the tyrant. In 1478, Pope Sikstus instructed opponents to attack Lorenzo and his brother giuliano during Easter Mass in the cathedral. Giuliano was stabbed to death, Lorenzo was injured and fled. Lorenzo gained popular support in an extremely critical situation, foiled the Pope's plot, and forced King Ferdinand I of Naples to yield, thus maintaining the status of Florence. Since then, Lorenzo has set up his own imperial organization-seventy-member conference to replace the old hundred-member group. Make the government truly stable. In 1494, the French invaded Florence, and pierrot, who succeeded Lorenzo, was expelled. In 1512, Lorenzo, the son of pierrot, resumed his rule in Florence with the support of the Spanish army. In 1527, the family was expelled again, but returned to Florence three years later under the protection of the holy Roman army. Florence became a principality in 1532. In 1567, Cosimo was awarded the title of Grand Duke, and two years later, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany was established, known as Cosimo I. Florence became the capital of the principality, and * * * and the country existed in name only. Medici family's rule in Florence lasted until 1737, after which it was ruled by Francis of Lorraine family.
The founders of wealth culture in this paragraph
Family
Giovanni Medici and Cosimo Medici are the wives and sons of Cosimo I, the founders of family fortune and culture.
medici family started from banking and gradually gained political status. For most of the 14th to 17th centuries, they were the de facto rulers of Florence. This family also produced three popes (Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici, Clemente VII, Papa Leo Xi), two French queens (Catalina de Medici, Marie de Medicis) and experienced three political exiles.
Giovanni Medici
Giovanni Medici was the first Medici to enter the banking business, and from him, his family had a certain influence in the Florence government. By the time Giovanni's son Cosimo Medici arrived, medici family had become the unofficial head of state (tyrant) of Florence. The branch of Cosimo family ruled Florence until the first generation of Florence Duke Alessandro Medici was assassinated in 1537. Power was transferred to the branch of Giovanni's youngest son Lorenzo I Medici, and Giovanni's great-grandson Cosimo I was in charge. Giovanni Medici (136-1428) laid the wealth and political foundation of this family. According to the description of the famous scholar Machiavelli (1469-1527), he was popular because he stood on the side of the common people in the dispute between the city-state nobles and the common people. He is rich and charitable, humble and courteous in high positions, but insightful in words (History of Florence). Giovanni was also the first person to sponsor art in medici family. He helped Ma Saqiao. It was this young genius who made a thorough reform in perspective painting and passed on Giotto's breath a century ago to later masters. Giovanni also commissioned brunelleschi, an outstanding architect, to build the Cathedral of Our Lady of Flowers in Florence. With the continued support of Cosimo, Giovanni's son, this beautiful dome building was completed, which achieved an epoch-making major innovation in style and structure and influenced European and American architecture for more than 5 years (see The Story of Art by Gombrich). It is still a symbol of Florence today.
Cosimo de Medici
Cosimo de Medici (1389-1464) not only expanded his father's wealth and political influence, but also enjoyed a higher reputation in the field of culture and art. According to relevant records, when Giovanni died, he left 179,221 gold coins. From 1434 to 1471, medici family paid more than 663,755 gold coins for charity, public buildings and taxes, and Cosimo alone paid more than 4, gold coins. (See Buckhardt's "Italian Renaissance Culture") Machiavelli praised him for his generosity, upbringing and speech. Cosimo de Medici
The most famous artists sponsored by Cosimo are Donatello, ghiberti, Fra Angelico and Fra Filippo Lippi. He is also a friend and protector of scholars. He received the famous scholar Ficcino at home, appointed him as the president of the Platonic Society in Florence, and gave him a house near his official residence in order to enjoy his association. He "realized that Plato's philosophy was the most beautiful flower in ancient ideological circles, felt friends with the same belief, and promoted the revival of another higher classical culture within the humanistic group. This special honor belongs to Cosimo." (Italian Renaissance Culture) When he died, he was extremely sad and honored. The whole city mourned for him. Under the instruction of the city-state government, the words "Father of the Nation" were engraved on his stone tablet.
Edit this paragraph's art patron
The most famous art patron in the Renaissance:
Lorenzo Medici, a luxury, is the most famous art patron in the Renaissance.
Cosimo once suffered for the untimely death of his son Giovanni, who had high hopes, and worried that there would be no successors in the family. He didn't know that his grandson Lorenzo de' Medici. In 1469, he became the heir of medici family.
Renaissance
During the Renaissance, Italy highly advocated luxury and debauchery, and the money earned from doing business was used for enjoyment or elegance. Machiavelli said: "Italian monarchs think that a monarch's talent lies in his ability to appreciate spicy words, write beautifully worded letters, show sharpness and wit between speeches, organize scams, decorate his body with gold and silver gems, eat and live more luxuriously than others, and enjoy everything." (See Dana's Philosophy of Art) On the other hand, it is not a peaceful and prosperous time to study knowledge, paint and carve, sing and dance all day. At the same time, brilliant literature and art were born, as well as numerous alliances, betrayals and wars between the city-States, numerous political conspiracies, violent exile and civic uprisings that led to bloodshed, not to mention endless quarrels and fights, and revenge and murder against each other.
political assassination
Lorenzo de' Medici once narrowly escaped a political assassination. It was in 1478, with the support of Pope Sikstus IV, the Patches, who were hostile to medici family, attacked Lorenzo and his brother Giuliano in the church. Giuliano was killed by several knives, and Lorenzo was rescued because of his flexible reaction and hid in the sacristy storage room to be spared. Then there was a riot in the whole city. The people supported Medici, the assassins were brutally executed, and the streets were full of mutilated bodies. The Pope and the king of Naples declared war on Florence.
Memorial painting
Giuliano's death is reflected in Botticelli's Venus and Mars (now in the National Gallery of London). Lorenzo remembers the brotherhood. Mars and Venus in the painting represent Giuliano and his lover who died of lung disease two years before him. Botticelli is medici family's favorite painter. The famous Birth of Venus and Spring were commissioned by Lorenzo's cousin to decorate his country house.
Cultural accomplishment
Compared with his ancestors, Lorenzo's cultural accomplishment is undoubtedly better. He himself is a famous poet and art critic, surrounded by the best scholars, literati and artists at that time. He imitated the Banquet in Plato's Dialogues and organized scholars to have philosophical discussions. One of the most famous artists he sponsored was Leonardo da Vinci (some people blamed him for living abroad later, which was obviously unfair), and Michelangelo was closely related to medici family all his life.
Michelangelo
Lorenzo first noticed Michelangelo, who showed his talent early, and paid more attention to and cared for him. The 14-year-old boy went in and out of Lorenzo's palace, studied and watched a lot of works of art, and got along with the most prestigious humanist scholars and poets at that time, which was self-evident. Perhaps it was the humanistic thought that came into contact with Medici's court that made Michelangelo, who served several generations of Medici, become a capitalized "person" instead of a "royal artist". He was always full of sympathy for medici family's opponents, who expelled medici family after Lorenzo's death and later died at the stake. Michelangelo, a middle-aged man, was entrusted by Pope Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici, who was born in Medici, to build a mausoleum for medici family in Florence. This project was carried out intermittently for 15 years. Four famous statues, Day, Night, Morning and Sunset, were placed on the sarcophagus of the mausoleum. There is also a statue in the mausoleum, which shows Lorenzo de' Medici. His handsome face and gorgeous clothes set off deep worries. Perhaps this is the artist's understanding of his first protector, and the indulgence of eating, drinking and dancing goes hand in hand with shrewd and wise meditation.
Death
In April p>1492, Lorenzo, the "luxury", died of stomach trouble at the age of 44. Machiavelli's famous historical work "The History of Florence" also came to an abrupt end in this year. His evaluation of Lorenzo is: "(He) enjoys many benefits from God and the God of Destiny, and all his undertakings are prosperous, while his enemies are often unfortunate ... He speaks keenly and eloquently at government meetings, is wise and decisive, and is quick and firm in execution. Although he loves women and likes to be with funny and sarcastic people ... Anyone who considers his serious side and happy side will find that there are two incompatible personalities in him ... In Florence, even in Italy, no one has ever been so famous for his intelligence and wisdom, and no one has yet.