How did the Medici demonstrate their power? Based on your experience in Florence, in what ways do you think Medici power affected the daily life of the average person?
The medici influence
Before taking this class, I had never heard of the Medici family. This is hard for me to believe, though, now that we've studied them for a semester and I have come to realize the magnitude of their influence on society both then, and now. Despite how much I learned throughout the course, however, it was still incredibly valuable to see the impact they had first-hand. For example, the city of Florence is full of art that they funded; you can't go anywhere without seeing something the Medici family commissioned. What really surprised me was when we went to Rome and I was still seeing signs of the Medici. Because of their papal power, the Medici crest can even be found within the walls of the Vatican complex. This really struck me because it showed how vast their power was. In modern times, it may not be quite as impressive to see a sign of someone's family all over the place, but in the 15th through 17th centuries that would've been a bigger deal. There was no internet or TV to spread ideas and influence. In other words, in order for the Medici to be represented in multiple cities throughout the country, they really had to have had a lot of power. The experience of seeing the Medici's legacy in person really brought home the level of power influence they had on society back when they were ruling Florence, and that deepened my knowledge of the subject substantially.
-Hannah
-Hannah
POWER THROUGH PATRONAGE
The Duomo, patronized by the Medici, stands out from the rest of Florence.
Its size allows it to be seen nearly everywhere.
The Medici legacy in Florence and Italy was like none other during the Renaissance period. It was quite clear that they fortified their political power through religion, patronage, and propaganda. However, it was difficult to truly understand why these different aspects allowed them to rise to power. Traveling to Italy and allowing what we saw to take hold of our emotions made it much more clear for us. For example, as we stood underneath the dome covering the city's cathedral, the sheer enormity of the structure made it obvious how monumental it was. It was clear to us why the citizens would have highly regarded the patron of such an immense structure. This was not as apparent until we saw the structure in person. Roaming the streets of Florence and seeing the Duomo from nearly everywhere that we were demonstrated the constant reminder of the sense of power of the Medicis. Yet this is something one must experience, and cannot fathom as easily through language or text. Another example is the equestrian statue of Cosimo I. The statue was placed right in the town square, in front of the Loggia, and depicts Cosimo I as militant and powerful. Imagine being a Florentine always crossing the busy town square and seeing the statue. The main image the Florentines would have of Cosimo I is that he is a assertive, horseback riding man, similar to the Great Romans. This worked as propaganda for the Medicis, as Cosimo I probably was not always in sight and probably was not as muscular as his portraits and sculptures depicted him as. But the images through art was probably the only picture most Florentines had of Cosimo I, further invoking respect and perhaps fear in their ruler. Thus, the average person constructed an image of the Medicis through the art and architecture that the Medicis patronized and was influenced to act in favor of the Medicis.
-Kunal and Sunny
The Palazzo Vecchio
To truly understand the Medici family it was best to see it from their point of view, in their many homes around Florence. From the Palazzo Medici to the Palazzo Vecchio to the Pitti Palace their wealth can bee seen since it was so prevalent across the city. Our tour of the Palazzo Vecchio was by far one of my favorites considering we were able to see how the family lived and what they spent their wealth on privately. This room in particular had maps of the world, but behind each of the maps was a little place to put treasures acquired from the area. But one map had a secret passage to several other rooms. These maps were not just for show and tell, but actively used to understand the location of everything in a time of war. All these homes certainly showed the power of the family and some of the power they married into in the case of Eleanor of Toledo. Every citizen would have seen the power of the family because the Palazzo Vecchio was the center of town. The Medici also patronized many works that were used by the public, such as the Duomo and the orphanage, which would have reinforced the public's positive opinion of the Medici family. While we had studied so many things the Medici had an influence on, it wasn't until seeing it all so close together and all of the other little things, that I was able to understand the magnitude this family had influenced Florence and the time period. Seeing Eleanor's rooms in the Palazzo Vecchio was one of my favorite parts because after finishing all of those rooms she decided it wasn't enough and bought the Pitti Palace! I am positive that the place would have been an amazing sight to see considering the Boboli Gardens were so expansive. While we learned that fact in class, it was so more obvious that the family had that much power after seeing all of their rooms.
-Becca
-Becca
Influence through art
By using public acts of patronage, the Medici were able to assert their power as well as ensure that their legacy would be a part of their subjects' daily lives. Pictured to the left is the Loggia next to the Palazzo Vecchio (Palazzo de Signoria), which shows some of the many sculptures that reside there. By displaying these beautiful pieces, such as Michelangelo's David and Giambologna's Rape of the Sabine Women, in this location, they were guaranteed to have been seen. This piazza and the Palazzo de Signoria was one of the central places in Florence, known for Cosimo the Elder's imprisonment, the Bonfire of the Vanities, and Savonarola's execution. By strategically placing these statues here, the public eye was sure to view them, illustrating the Medici's ability to fund such vast and beautiful projects. This is similar to the grandiosity of the Duomo,visible throughout almost the entire city, illustrating the Medici's power through patronage.
~Juliette
~Juliette