Attributed to Alessandro di Cristofano Allori

(Florence 1535-1607)

Portrait of Cosimo I de Medici, half-length, in violet fur-lined costume

Footnotes

Provenance
With Simon Dickinson Ltd., London, where purchased by the present owner

The present portrait is based on Bronzino's 1559 portrait of Cosimo I de' Medici (1519-1574), showing the sitter at the age of 40. A number of versions exist of the portraits of Cosimo, both by Bronzino himself, who was court portraitist to the Medici, and by members of his studio which included Alessandro Allori. In addition to painting portraits and devotional works, Allori also participated in the decoration of Francesco I's studiolo in the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence, under Vasari.

Florence was established as an imperial duchy governed by the Medici in the 1530s and Cosimo held the title of Duke of Florence (1537-69) before being made first Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1569. This portrait shows him as a determined and strong leader, but he is chiefly remembered today for his patronage of the arts. He was responsible for building the Uffizi (intended as administrative offices) which now house one of the world's greatest art collections, as well as completing the Pitti Palace as a Medici home and creating the Boboli Gardens behind it. He commissioned numerous works from the major artists of the day including Pontormo, Vasari and Cellini and his court was frequented by notable Humanists and poets.

For a discussion on the many variants of this composition see Robert B. Simon, Bronzino's portraits of Cosimo I de Medici, 1982, vol II, pp 273-307, cat. Nos B1-39.