An old King kneeling it is Cosimo the old

In the Pantheon of the history of art, the Renaissance and, at the top of the patrons of the Renaissance, a mythical family which exists for more than three centuries of Florence to Rome. Bankers who will become popes, princes, and humanists. Tell their story, it also show their objects. The Maillol Museum was successful performance: arrive to travel to Paris a large cabinet of curiosities recomposed 158 pieces that show their personal obsessions, their glory and their woes.

It therefore starts by a bank. The first of the illustrious patrons, Cosme former (1389-1464). Under his leadership, the Medici Bank has subsidiaries in Rome, Naples, Venice, Milan, Geneva, Lyon, Avignon, Bruges and London. In 1457, Cosme is the richest merchant of Florence and, among others, the banker of the papacy. The city is led by an oligarchy, a rich merchants Assembly which will take the lead for thirty years.

Thousand artists under protection

The sustainability of the family power is not only to political intrigue but to an astute sense of communication. It passes through the expression of the family magnificence, i.e. by a deployment of resources devoted to the art and architecture.

Incidental to the demonstration of the power, at the time, it is the construction of a Palace. The descendants will cease to expand, beautify or copy those of their elders. And, of course, the Palace will be filled with works of artists supported by the Medici. Each passion.

The exhibition is organized by major historical themes. Patrizia Nitti, artistic director of the Maillol Museum, Cosme former would alone protected more than one thousand artists. In the exhibition, you can see a work astounding of Fra Angelico, "The burial of saints Cosme and Damien and their three brothers", to 1438 in a primitive aesthetic, moderated by a sense of geometry. In the foreground, the dead elongated online. The background, the houses, rectangular forms and, on the right side, a camel from the mouth of which leaves a message written. The band drawn before the comic strip.

One of the impressive paintings in the exhibition is a Botticelli, "Adoration of the Magi" from 1476. In this composition very colorful with many characters marked by a certain grace, is a large part of the Medici family. An old King kneeling: it is Cosimo the old. Not far, is his son, Pierre Goutteux (1416-1469) and, in the right group, distinguished a thoughtful young man. It is certainly of Lawrence the magnificent, grandson (1449-1492). Pierre Goutteux protects Botticelli. Lawrence the magnificent pensioner young Michelangelo, who has his own room in the Palace. An unfinished sculpture in marble, an Apollo of the years 1525, demonstrates few explicitly the genius of the artist. It was yet prepared in the House of Cosimo II.

Feather Cape

The son of Lawrence and Clarisse Orsini, Jean (1475-1521), was elected Pope in 1513 under the name of Leo X. We will not see her portrait painted by Raphael which is exposed at the Pitti Palace. The Maillol Museum on the other hand shows a man yet more thankless face, Fedra Inghirami, the Librarian of his Holiness, to fascinating strabismus. The dexterity of the representation and the contrast between the red dress and the very dark background make a work out of the ordinary.

Cosme Ier(1519-1574) supports the creation of the painter and first biographer of painters, Giorgio Vasari. Further, the exhibition shows a woman to the mysterious gaze. It Eléonore de Toledo, wife of Cosimo I, painted by Bronzino in 1543. This latter fact part with its large protected Pontormo.

As Cosme II (1590-1621), he built an Observatory in his villa for the very disputed Galilee. An entire room of the Maillol Museum is devoted to scientific instruments and the astronomical research of the Galilee.

Another is devoted to the taste for the exoticism of the Medici. From elsewhere are the cornerstones of the prestigious Chambers of curiosities. For example, there is a mask of jade of Teotihuacan (circa 250-600), wooden spoons carved of the Kingdom of Benin and even a cloak of feathers of the Brazil dated the beginning of the parts.

The story ends, decadence and without heir with Anne-Marie-Louise (1667-1743), which will bequeath to the city of Florence the Medici Treasury. It is the end of a dynasty of collectors and the beginning of a fabulous Museum collection.