Visitors to Florence between now and 23rd January have the opportunity to catch the first exhibition entirely devoted to the art of Agnolo di Cosimo, better known as Bronzino [1503 – 1572], court painter to Cosimo 1 de’ Medici.
Bronzino spent most of his life in Florence and, with his teacher, Pontormo, decorated the Capponi Chapel in the city’s Church of Santa Felicità. From 1539 onwards, he received Medici patronage, beginning with the commission for paintings for the wedding of Duke Cosimo to Eleonora of Toledo.
Soon he became the family’s official painter and his style of portraiture influenced court painters all over Europe. He paid particular attention to costume detail. He also painted allegorical and religious themes and became known as a poet. No one knows quite why the painter became known as Bronzino but it could have been because of his dark complexion.
The current exhibition at the Palazzo Strozzi features over seventy of the artist’s best works, which are on display in nine rooms. Some of the works are on loan from the world’s most prestigious museums. Visitors to the exhibition can buy a Bronzino Pass which will entitle them to discounts in other Florentine museums where works by Bronzino can be seen.
Bronzino, pittore e poeta alla corte dei Medici [Bronzino, Artist and Poet at the Court of the Medici] is at Palazzo Strozzi, Florence, until January 23rd 2011.
Open daily: 09.00 – 20.00
Thursdays: 09.00 – 23.00
Last admission is one hour before closing.
Information: [0039] 055 2645155
http://www.palazzostrozzi.org/
