Some of the lost desserts of the Medici dynasty have been recaptured in oils for a new show at Florence's Palazzo Medici.
The paintings, daintily framed by recreated Renassance-era biscuits, fill seven niches in the palazzo that once housed Florence's most famous rulers.
Cosimo de' Medici's favourite 'Berlingozzo' cake and a wild-cherry confection taught to Catherine de' Medici by her Provencal mastercook Michel de Notre Dame are some of the mouthwatering recipes that have inspired Florentine painter Marina Calamai.
The centrepiece of the show is an installation of a giant cherry and red-rose cake made for Lorenzo The Magnificent, 'sliced' so that visitors get to its heart and hear a reproduction of the great prince reciting poems on the joys of fine living.
Calamai has specialised in painting cakes since she was ordered to swear off sugar during a recent pregnancy.
The show, DolceMente RinasciMentalmente, runs until October 14 at Palazzo Medici Riccardi.
