Cosimo I de’Medici and Granducal Florence – Eliana Carrara and Philippe Canguilhem
Eliana Carrara (University of Molise): 'Cosimo I de' Medici and the formation of the Accademia delle Arti del Disegno (Florence 1563)'
This paper examines the role of Cosimo I in the foundation of the Accademia delle Arti del Disegno, established in Florence on 31 January 1563 by Giorgio Vasari’s initiative. The Accademia had the chief goal of promoting artistic development in Florence, training new generations of artists and perpetuating the memory of past ones. But it was also a formidable tool of self-promotion for the Medici regime, sponsoring festivities and celebrations such as those held for the weddings of Francesco I and Joanna of Austria, and of Ferdinando I with Christina of Lorraine.
Philippe Canguilhem (University of Toulouse): 'Cosimo I and the creation of a ducal music in 16th-century Florence'
Music is often regarded as the least significant among the many artistic achievements of the court of Cosimo I. Florentine musical life in mid-sixteenth century is yet to attract significant attention from researchers and musicologists, who often cite the Duke’s relative lack of interest in music compared to other Italian rulers of the time. What do we know of Cosimo’s personal interest in music? How did he develop a musical establishment at court during his reign, and to what extent can we connect his promotion of music to his broader artistic politics?
Cosimo I de’ Medici (1519-1574), first Grandduke of Tuscany, was both a consummate administrator and a fierce patron of the arts. The lecture series Cosimo I De’ Medici and Granducal Florence celebrates the 500th anniversary of Cosimo I de’ Medici’s birth by bringing together scholars from across the humanities to discuss Cosimo’s achievements in art, architecture, statecraft, scholarship and culture. Pairs of scholars will offer specialist discussions over the course of six evenings, from June 2019 to January 2020. Evenings will be devoted to issues of diplomacy and spying, architectural and artistic commissions, the development of universities and libraries, as well as Cosimo’s personal learning and self-representation.