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Cosimo and the Arts:

Cosimo came into power after a long period of exile of the Medici family in the early years of the high renaissance due to European wars. When Pope Clement is imprisoned during war, he makes a deal with Charles V to restore the Medici in exchange for his freedom. As a result of this, Alessandro de’ Medici was the first to hold power after the Medici restoration back in Florence but did not remain in control for very long. Alessandro takes the first title of Duke of Florence in 1531 and begins the new era of dukedom for the Medici family. Alessandro holds this title until his death in 1537 and then passes his title down to Cosimo I de’ Medici. Cosimo I was instrumental in the restoration of the Medici back in Florence as well as a key player in the restoration of the arts in general around Florence. Cosimo builds his role as a powerful leader by marrying Elenora di Toldeo who at the time was one of the richest women in Europe and related to Charles V. Cosimo begins his contributions to Florentine art restoration with the renovations of the Palazzo Vecchio and by moving his family out of the Palazzo Medici to the Palazzo Vecchio in 1540. The Palazzo Vecchio was the home to government affairs and by moving into this building and making it a Medici home further served as propaganda for the Medici family as well as signifying their power and association with the Florentine government. One of Cosimo’s greatest feats was commissioning a famous artist named Gorgio Vasari to do key parts of the renovation inside the Palazzo Vecchio. Perhaps his most famous contribution was the Salone dei 500… or the room of 500. This room was the most important place in the Palazzo Vecchio because it held all 500 government officials during government council meetings. Adorning the walls and ceiling of the Salone dei 500 are all of Cosimo’s successes as a leader including the territories he conquered from Siena to coastal territories, as well as his own coronation located in the center of the ceiling. Vasari not only reconstructed the entire inside of the Palazzo Vecchio to adorn Cosimo’s triumph as leader but decided to keep the original outside walls in order to show Cosimo as humble to his constituents in keeping the authenticity of a government building. Outside of the Palazzo Vecchio, Cosimo commissioned several sculptures including the Fountain of Neptune by Bandinelli in 1575, Persues by Cellini in 1554, and Herculeus & Cacus by Bandinelli in 1545. After Vasari completed his work in the Palazzo Vecchio, Cosimo commissioned Vasari to build the Uffizi beginning in 1559 and completed in 1580. Cosimo intended this to be the place for government administrative offices and a place for those officials whom he chose to be. The importance of the Uffizi was in its style that was geared toward more mannerist elements. The shape of the Uffizi is u-shaped and the mannerist characteristics was a new art form not seen before in Florence.