The Famous Image Of Eleanor Of Toledo By Bronzino

No one wants a stranger in Florence so go away! Is the words that Eleanor of Toledo (1522-1562) might have heard when she arrived in Florence in 1539. The famous image of Eleanor with her son Giovanni is considered a famous portrait today that was created by Bronzino in 1545. Historians debate whether the portrait illustrates her status and the fact she gave birth to many children. Yet, Eleanor brought important family connections from the Spanish which expanded the Medici power. She became a patron through her wealth while shaping the power of the Medici family. Eleanor did not go without criticism from the Florentines. The importance of this essay is to address the dislike the Florentines had against her, the role she played in politics,
One includes a case where she requested her husband to help out a servant for Luigi Ridolfi who was an ambassador that arranged her marriage. Although, the importance of her politics is that she stretched her authority as a woman. Many of the letters she worked with are from noblemen from surrounding areas. For example, she sent money to a nobleman in Spain. Eleanor may not have responded to requests from the lower class. A woman from the lower class got rejected for help because she was in a political dispute with her husband. Eleanor dealt with military matters, with fortresses, with appointed ambassadors, and with other state employees. Chiarissimo de’ Medici consulted Eleanor before acting on matters dealing with soldiers. One example is when the number of soldiers decreased and there were not enough supplies to go around to keep them going. She dealt with this while Charles V commanded the Tuscan military in 1543. Eleanor became powerful and she used her power to make actions happen. Eleanor did not let anyone down in the upper class. When she got a request to help the military she did it. Two weeks later, she fulfilled the needs of the soldiers and in return, soldiers were sent to Florence. Security was important to the Medici and once Charles V returned fortresses back to the Medici another threat was eliminated. Eleanor took her role seriously. Her training in imperial studies helped solve problems and she used her own money to increase the reputation of the Medici. Eleanor gave a voice to women in power who were hated in the republic previously. It was this version of ‘girl power’ that made a path for women in the future. Eleanor did get involved with artwork when she was in power which paintings of her still survive today. Agnolo Bronzino painted a picture for the Duchess in Palazzo Vecchio. She engaged in the academic field when she donated