Portrait of Piero de' Medici ('The Gouty')

Artist: Bronzino (Italian, 1503 - 1572)

Original Dimensions: 23" x 17 3/4"

Location: National Gallery of Art, London

About Artwork: (Probably about 1550-70) "Piero de‘ Medici (1416–1469) was the son of Cosimo ’Pater Patriae‘ (’father of his country‘), and father of Lorenzo the Magnificent. They were all members of the Medici, the leading family in Florence during the Italian Renaissance. Although Florence was a republic at the time, Piero was in effect ruler of the city from 1464 until 1469. He was known as Piero ’il Gottoso‘ (’the Gouty') because he suffered from the illness. He commissioned the magnificent fresco of the Adoration of the Magi by Benozzo Gozzoli that decorates the Palazzo Medici Riccardi in Florence. This posthumous portrait was based on a much earlier marble bust by Mino da Fiesole, which is now in the Bargello, Florence. It was painted during the rule of Cosimo I de’ Medici, Duke of Florence and later Grand Duke of Tuscany. As court artist, Bronzino was required to supply many such images. This painting, lacking the clarity and finesse of rendering of Bronzino’s autograph work, is likely largely to have been executed by his assistants." - (National Gallery of Art, London)