Lorenzo De Medici
El Magnifico
Period 5
16 December 2013
1500 words
Period 5
16 December 2013
1500 words
El Magnifico Of all the Renaissance artists, thinkers, poets, writers, adventurers, and contributors, the name “Lorenzo de Medici” stands out and seems to have some relationship with all the rest. Lorenzo was a major patron of the arts and helped create a time of rebirth, during which the arts held new meaning and reprisal. vHe was also a prominent political leader and made impacts that have lasted even through today. Lorenzo de Medici was born on the New Year of 1449, in Florence. At the time, Florence was considered an independent Italian city state. Lorenzo was born into a family of nobility …show more content…
and was supposed to take the place of his grandfather, Cosimo, in the group that governed the republic of Florence.
From an early age, Lorenzo displayed enthusiasm towards his studies and play, as his teacher, Rinuccini, observed.
“He showed an intelligence so pliable and versatile that, in boyish things, whatever he set his mind to he learned and mastered better than did others, dancing, bowmanship, singing, riding, playing games, performing on musical instruments and many other things.” –Rinuccini
He became an accomplished writer who valued the contribution of the arts in his life.
In December 1446, he was instated in the “Council of One Hundred” in Florence, to help rule the state. He made alliances with friends and made peace with foes during his time in office. Lorenzo was observed by those around him “to govern as much as possible by constitutional methods" (Discovering Biography). In fact, at just sixteen years old, Lorenzo managed to set up the council to be pro-Medicean, where he was able to pass more legislation that he favored. As Lorenzo de Medici’s life progressed, he became known as a sound political leader and a generous patron of the arts. He was crowned with the nickname, “El Magnifico” meaning “The Magnificent.” Lorenzo died on April 8, 1492 from unknown health reasons. Lorenzo was a man who was given respect, admiration, and love due to his accomplishments and talents. In his lifetime, he managed to lead Florence to become one of the most prominent Italian states and to give recognition to several aspiring Renaissance men and women. Three major contributions that Lorenzo de Medici made were his political greatness, his generosity surrounding the arts, and his post-mortem contributions as a …show more content…
whole. One of the most important contributions that Lorenzo de Medici gave to the world was his political leadership. He transformed Florence and helped turn it into the gleaming city it is today. During the first part of his life, the Medici Family made Lorenzo a child that everyone in Florence would know of. They set up public jousts for him to participate and win in and arranged his marriage of Clarice Orsini, a rich member of an ancient Roman family. By doing this, Lorenzo was widely known and appreciated around Florence. The next step for Lorenzo was to gain not only fame, but also the support of Florence. His first diplomatic errand was when some Florence citizens assembled to get the Medici family out of politics. Lorenzo solved the conflict by bringing 3,000 armed men to the piazza as a display of power. As a result, Florence was unified by a pro-Medici attitude, which benefitted their future by creating an environment where people had the same political views. Because there was widespread support for Lorenzo, he created a new council out of entirely pro-Medici politicians. Lorenzo made it his goal to use this council to promote reform and the betterment of Florence. In order to do this, Lorenzo made friends with several other important and wealthy families by intervening in marriages. By doing this, Lorenzo created friends out of would be foes and potential enemies of the state. He also maintained a relationship with all social classes and made sure to help even the peasantry. They would write to him asking for help with miscellaneous matters, and he would correspond. Because of this, “ Lorenzo’s emerging skills and reputation as a diplomatist are in evidence, as well as his command of patron-client networks” (Durant 115). Lorenzo’s close relationships with different types of people in Florence improved his reputation and made him a lovable leader. Because of this, Lorenzo was able to pass unconstitutional legislation, still benefitting Florence, which could be overlooked. Lorenzo’s diplomatic contributions greatly affected Florentine society. They unified the citizens and the state and made alliances with former enemy states. In this way, Lorenzo created a safe environment for his people. It was this environment that made way for a flood of Renaissance artists to travel and gather to. In addition to his political contributions, Lorenzo de Medici was a famed patron of the arts. Stemming from his excelling in the fields of poetry and painting during his childhood, Lorenzo was always watching for upcoming talented artists around Italy. In the early years of his leadership, he collected ancient Greek manuscripts and added to the Medici family art collection. As years went on, Lorenzo began to seek out art and artists to join him in his palace, where he created an environment of learning and creating art. One of the most famous artists recognized by Lorenzo de Medici was Michelangelo. Michelangelo actually created his first sculpture in the Medici garden and Lorenzo was so impressed that he invited Michelangelo to live and learn with him. Other artists to whom Lorenzo was the benefactor included Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci. Because of his appreciation for art, Lorenzo made Florence a blossoming center for art. Florence was the gathering place for young artists and was the place where they found their style and individual achievement. In this way, Lorenzo promoted new art, which emphasized modern ideals like humanism and individualism. He created a city where the Renaissance could flourish and take off. Lorenzo also saw that his appreciation for the arts “consolidated his authority in Florence, and beyond” (Renaissance 96). Thus, Lorenzo’s ability to patron the arts also served as a way to better his reputation in Florence. In combination of Lorenzo de Medici’s political and artistic leadership, his post-mortem contributions to the world are extreme. Lorenzo not only led a peaceful state with little enemies, but he also turned it into the Mecca for aspiring artists and thinkers. These accomplishments had drastic affects, even after Lorenzo’s death. First, Lorenzo’s leadership continued on when he died, enacted by his son, Piero. Though the Medici family fell out od rule, peace was maintained. Florence became a widely known city on its road to greatness. It remains one of the most famous cities even today, over 600 years later. His benefaction for the arts remained as the Medici family continued to give money and support to artists. Florence became a leading city of the Renaissance, holding many of the most famous artists in history. Through the support of Lorenzo de Medici, they rose to fame and owed their appreciation to Lorenzo, even after his death. Their accomplishments are, in part, his accomplishments because he was the first person to recognize their talents. Lorenzo achieved enormous success throughout his life, but his contributions to Florence and to the world greatly outweigh his mortal successes. He was thought of as a living god by many of the Florentines, which is partly “why his influence lived on so far past his death” (UXL Biographies).
Lorenzo’s fame and accomplishment far surpassed his time and life and his contributions after hid death are numerous.
Lorenzo de Medici is one of the most influential persons of the Renaissance era.
In a world where political advancement and artistic appreciation was young, Lorenzo helped it to mature and used these to become successful and powerful. He created one of the first very successful Italian city-states. He became well versed in art supported the talented artists of his time. Then, he fused the two together to create an expanding city that brought together young artists to create beautiful sculptures, paintings, etc. Lorenzo de Medici played such an invaluable role in the Renaissance. He used his political power to serve as the gateway for artists to become famous. Then, the artists would spread their art and it could be seen by the world. Thus, they too would become influenced by the art that so represented the Renaissance spirit and culture. Lorenzo de Medici remains one of the most profound and influential rulers to date and has made countless contributions to the world during the Renaissance, and our own modern
world.
Works Cited
Durant, Will. "Lorenzo De ' Medici." The Renaissance: A History of Civilization in Italy from 1304-1576 A.D. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1953. 110-20. Print.
Encyclopedia of World Biography. Online ed. Detroit: Gale, 1998. From Student Resources in Context.
Grendler, Paul F. "Lorenzo De ' Medici." Encyclopedia of the Renaissance. Vol. 1. New York: Scribner 's, 1999. N. pag. Print.
Library Journal. 136.13 (Aug. 1, 2011): p105. From Student Resources in Context.
UXL Biographies. Detroit: U*X*L, 2003. From Student Resources in Context.
Period 5
16 December 2013
1500 words
Period 5
16 December 2013
1500 words
El Magnifico Of all the Renaissance artists, thinkers, poets, writers, adventurers, and contributors, the name “Lorenzo de Medici” stands out and seems to have some relationship with all the rest. Lorenzo was a major patron of the arts and helped create a time of rebirth, during which the arts held new meaning and reprisal. vHe was also a prominent political leader and made impacts that have lasted even through today. Lorenzo de Medici was born on the New Year of 1449, in Florence. At the time, Florence was considered an independent Italian city state. Lorenzo was born into a family of nobility …show more content…
and was supposed to take the place of his grandfather, Cosimo, in the group that governed the republic of Florence.
From an early age, Lorenzo displayed enthusiasm towards his studies and play, as his teacher, Rinuccini, observed.
“He showed an intelligence so pliable and versatile that, in boyish things, whatever he set his mind to he learned and mastered better than did others, dancing, bowmanship, singing, riding, playing games, performing on musical instruments and many other things.” –Rinuccini
He became an accomplished writer who valued the contribution of the arts in his life.
In December 1446, he was instated in the “Council of One Hundred” in Florence, to help rule the state. He made alliances with friends and made peace with foes during his time in office. Lorenzo was observed by those around him “to govern as much as possible by constitutional methods" (Discovering Biography). In fact, at just sixteen years old, Lorenzo managed to set up the council to be pro-Medicean, where he was able to pass more legislation that he favored. As Lorenzo de Medici’s life progressed, he became known as a sound political leader and a generous patron of the arts. He was crowned with the nickname, “El Magnifico” meaning “The Magnificent.” Lorenzo died on April 8, 1492 from unknown health reasons. Lorenzo was a man who was given respect, admiration, and love due to his accomplishments and talents. In his lifetime, he managed to lead Florence to become one of the most prominent Italian states and to give recognition to several aspiring Renaissance men and women. Three major contributions that Lorenzo de Medici made were his political greatness, his generosity surrounding the arts, and his post-mortem contributions as a …show more content…
whole. One of the most important contributions that Lorenzo de Medici gave to the world was his political leadership. He transformed Florence and helped turn it into the gleaming city it is today. During the first part of his life, the Medici Family made Lorenzo a child that everyone in Florence would know of. They set up public jousts for him to participate and win in and arranged his marriage of Clarice Orsini, a rich member of an ancient Roman family. By doing this, Lorenzo was widely known and appreciated around Florence. The next step for Lorenzo was to gain not only fame, but also the support of Florence. His first diplomatic errand was when some Florence citizens assembled to get the Medici family out of politics. Lorenzo solved the conflict by bringing 3,000 armed men to the piazza as a display of power. As a result, Florence was unified by a pro-Medici attitude, which benefitted their future by creating an environment where people had the same political views. Because there was widespread support for Lorenzo, he created a new council out of entirely pro-Medici politicians. Lorenzo made it his goal to use this council to promote reform and the betterment of Florence. In order to do this, Lorenzo made friends with several other important and wealthy families by intervening in marriages. By doing this, Lorenzo created friends out of would be foes and potential enemies of the state. He also maintained a relationship with all social classes and made sure to help even the peasantry. They would write to him asking for help with miscellaneous matters, and he would correspond. Because of this, “ Lorenzo’s emerging skills and reputation as a diplomatist are in evidence, as well as his command of patron-client networks” (Durant 115). Lorenzo’s close relationships with different types of people in Florence improved his reputation and made him a lovable leader. Because of this, Lorenzo was able to pass unconstitutional legislation, still benefitting Florence, which could be overlooked. Lorenzo’s diplomatic contributions greatly affected Florentine society. They unified the citizens and the state and made alliances with former enemy states. In this way, Lorenzo created a safe environment for his people. It was this environment that made way for a flood of Renaissance artists to travel and gather to. In addition to his political contributions, Lorenzo de Medici was a famed patron of the arts. Stemming from his excelling in the fields of poetry and painting during his childhood, Lorenzo was always watching for upcoming talented artists around Italy. In the early years of his leadership, he collected ancient Greek manuscripts and added to the Medici family art collection. As years went on, Lorenzo began to seek out art and artists to join him in his palace, where he created an environment of learning and creating art. One of the most famous artists recognized by Lorenzo de Medici was Michelangelo. Michelangelo actually created his first sculpture in the Medici garden and Lorenzo was so impressed that he invited Michelangelo to live and learn with him. Other artists to whom Lorenzo was the benefactor included Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci. Because of his appreciation for art, Lorenzo made Florence a blossoming center for art. Florence was the gathering place for young artists and was the place where they found their style and individual achievement. In this way, Lorenzo promoted new art, which emphasized modern ideals like humanism and individualism. He created a city where the Renaissance could flourish and take off. Lorenzo also saw that his appreciation for the arts “consolidated his authority in Florence, and beyond” (Renaissance 96). Thus, Lorenzo’s ability to patron the arts also served as a way to better his reputation in Florence. In combination of Lorenzo de Medici’s political and artistic leadership, his post-mortem contributions to the world are extreme. Lorenzo not only led a peaceful state with little enemies, but he also turned it into the Mecca for aspiring artists and thinkers. These accomplishments had drastic affects, even after Lorenzo’s death. First, Lorenzo’s leadership continued on when he died, enacted by his son, Piero. Though the Medici family fell out od rule, peace was maintained. Florence became a widely known city on its road to greatness. It remains one of the most famous cities even today, over 600 years later. His benefaction for the arts remained as the Medici family continued to give money and support to artists. Florence became a leading city of the Renaissance, holding many of the most famous artists in history. Through the support of Lorenzo de Medici, they rose to fame and owed their appreciation to Lorenzo, even after his death. Their accomplishments are, in part, his accomplishments because he was the first person to recognize their talents. Lorenzo achieved enormous success throughout his life, but his contributions to Florence and to the world greatly outweigh his mortal successes. He was thought of as a living god by many of the Florentines, which is partly “why his influence lived on so far past his death” (UXL Biographies).
Lorenzo’s fame and accomplishment far surpassed his time and life and his contributions after hid death are numerous.
Lorenzo de Medici is one of the most influential persons of the Renaissance era.
In a world where political advancement and artistic appreciation was young, Lorenzo helped it to mature and used these to become successful and powerful. He created one of the first very successful Italian city-states. He became well versed in art supported the talented artists of his time. Then, he fused the two together to create an expanding city that brought together young artists to create beautiful sculptures, paintings, etc. Lorenzo de Medici played such an invaluable role in the Renaissance. He used his political power to serve as the gateway for artists to become famous. Then, the artists would spread their art and it could be seen by the world. Thus, they too would become influenced by the art that so represented the Renaissance spirit and culture. Lorenzo de Medici remains one of the most profound and influential rulers to date and has made countless contributions to the world during the Renaissance, and our own modern
world.
Works Cited
Durant, Will. "Lorenzo De ' Medici." The Renaissance: A History of Civilization in Italy from 1304-1576 A.D. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1953. 110-20. Print.
Encyclopedia of World Biography. Online ed. Detroit: Gale, 1998. From Student Resources in Context.
Grendler, Paul F. "Lorenzo De ' Medici." Encyclopedia of the Renaissance. Vol. 1. New York: Scribner 's, 1999. N. pag. Print.
Library Journal. 136.13 (Aug. 1, 2011): p105. From Student Resources in Context.
UXL Biographies. Detroit: U*X*L, 2003. From Student Resources in Context.