Agnolo Bronzino
Agnolo Bronzino Cosimo I de‘ Medici in armour circa 1545, Art Gallery of New South Wales
Cosimo I de' Medici in armour circa 1545
Bronzino was the leading painter in mid 16th-century Florence, where he served as a court painter to Duke Cosimo l de’Medici. His portraits are characterised by an intense concentration and an almost unnerving clarity – none more so than this portrait of Cosimo in armour. If the duke’s diverted gaze reveals a sense of anxiety in the still-youthful ruler, his steely reserve is cleverly accentuated by his forbidding armour. Rendered with reflections, highlights and shadows, as well as rich red velvet lining, Cosimo’s armour is an article of transfixing interest.
Cosimo belonged to a secondary branch of the Medici family and succeeded to the dukedom in 1537 when the main Medici line was extinguished. The sitters’ helmet rests on the Medici broncone – a laurel tree stump with a vigorous leafy side shoot. Its presence suggests that Cosimo was a true heir of the Medici patriarchy and represented an alternative, but forceful, new growth in the family tree.
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K–6 discussion questions
A court painter was an artist who painted for members of a royal or ruling family. Agnolo Bronzino was a court painter to Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici, the man in this portrait. Imagine you are a court painter. What kind of portraits would you make? What would happen if you created a portrait the royal family didn’t like?
Look at Cosimo’s face, expression, clothes and the way he poses his body. Look at his suit of armour with its red velvet lining and how the artist has painted it with highlights and shadows. What does this suit tell us about Cosimo’s personality and his place in the world?
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K–6 activities
One of your classmates has asked you to create a portrait of them. Meet with your classmate to find out what they want people to see in the portrait. Think about how your artistic style can add special qualities to the artwork.
Go into your favourite room. Collect objects and costumes that tell other people something about you. Photograph yourself in this room with the objects around you. Collage these images together to create a self-portrait.
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7–12 discussion questions
Research the history of the Medici family in Florence. Describe its impact on the development of art, science, learning and architecture during the Italian Renaissance in the 15th century. The Renaissance took place during the 15th and 16th centuries (1400s and 1500s) in Europe. It was a notable period for portraiture due to a humanist philosophy and a new focus on the individual.
Portraits in Western art often show a sitter’s power, wealth, beauty or virtue. Bronzino’s many portraits of Cosimo de’ Medici and his family are noted for their display of power and authority and have been described as propaganda. Does this portrait show the sitter’s power, wealth, beauty or virtue? How? What objects are depicted, and what might they symbolise? Do they provide any information about the sitter?
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7–12 activities
Bronzino is associated with Mannerism, an artistic style of the late Renaissance. Mannerist painting is more artificial and less naturalistic than Renaissance painting. It is associated with elongated figures, strained poses, hyper-elegance, vivid colours, and unusual effects of scale, lighting or perspective. Research the artistic style of Mannerism and individual artists from this period. Create a portrait or self-portrait in a mannerist style.
Look at the expression on Cosimo l de’ Medici’s face. Describe his body language. Copy his pose and consider how you feel. Create a portrait of a friend focusing on their body language and stance.