Firenze

Florence: November 30th

         Florence, though mainly known as the home of Italian Renaissance, has ancient Roman origins.  Lucius Cornelius Sulla established Florence in 80 BC.  The name Florence originates from the Latin Fluentia, or flowing, because it was located between two rivers.  The city was originally intended as an army camp for Sulla's army veterans, but it quickly grew. 

         The most important time period in Florence's history is the Renaissance.  Most of the Italian Renaissance masters worked in Florence, but in order to understand the culture of the Renaissance, it's important to examine the Medici family.  The Medici family was originally poor and unimportant.  The Medici Bank was the beginning of their dynasty.  Giovanni di Bicci de Medici opened the bank in 1397, and Cosimo the Elder, Giovanni's son, took over in 1434.  Cosimo, his son Piero, and Piero's son Lorenzo are considered the most influential members of the Medici family.  The Medici were the unofficial rulers of the Florentine republic.  The Medici family were important politically, but they were also avid patrons of the arts.  Congruent with Renaissance ideals, the Medici family loved classicism and ancient Roman art.  Giovanni di Bicci commissioned works by Brunelleschi, who was famous for his love of geometry and who created the dome for the cathedral in Florence.  Cosimo de Medici commissioned works by Donatello, the famous sculptor who was the first artist to make entire bronze statues since the ancient Romans.  Lorenzo de Medici, known as Lorenzo the Magnificent, commissioned works by the famous Domenico Ghirlandaio, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Sandro Botticelli.  This family's patronage was crucial for the art of the Renaissance.  Without their support, the artists couldn't have afforded to produce such lovely, expensive works.

          On our excursion in Florence, we visited the Uffizzi museum where we were able to see the Medici's collection of ancient Roman sculptures, Renaissance scuptures, and Renaissance paintings.  Some of the most memorable works that we saw include Cimabue's Maesta from 1285, Masaccio's Madonna with Child from 1425, Paolo Uccello's Battle of San Romano from 1456, Sandro Botticelli's Triumph of Venus (or La Primavera) from 1478, and Michelangelo's Tondo Doni from 1504.

          Florence is an amazing place to visit because not only was Renaissance founded there, but so many of the works from this time period are still in Florence.  Seeing the works in the original Renaissance city makes me appreciate them that much more.