Chapter XII: Cosimo and Piero De’ Medici and Art

Revolution in the Direction of Art when Cosimo was
young—Architectural Questions—Brunelleschi—Re-building
of San Lorenzo—Abbey of Fiesole—Michelozzo—Church and
Convent of San Marco—Other Works of Michelozzo—Chapel
of the Annunziata—Tabernacle in San Miniato—Tornabuoni
Palace—Brunelleschi’s Buildings—Pazzi Chapel—Pitti Palace—Luca
Fancelli—Leon Batista Alberti—Rucellai Palace and Loggia—Holy
Sepulchre—The Annunziata Choir—Sculpture—Donatello and Cosimo
de’ Medici—Lorenzo Ghiberti—Glass Painting and the Jesuates—Luca
della Robbia—Works in Glazed Earth—Sepulchral Monuments—Noferi
Strozzi—Neri Capponi—Orlando de’ Medici—Splendour of the
Monuments—Desiderio da Settignano—Bernardo and Antonio
Rossellino—Chapel of the Cardinal of Portugal—Mino
da Fiesole—Ornamentation—Giuliano da Majano—Antonio
Filarete—Niello—Maso Finiguerra—Painting—Masaccio and Fra
Angelico of Fiesole—Benozzo Gozzoli—Paolo Uccello—Andrea dal
Castagno—Domenico Veneziano—Filippo Lippi—The Peselli—Flemish
in connection with Tuscan Art—Art-Treasures and Antiquities in
the House of the Medici—Personal Intercourse of the Medici with
Artists—Antonio Squarcialupi _degli Organi_—Domenico Veneziano to
Piero de’ Medici—Benozzo Gozzali to Piero de’ Medici—Fra Filippo
Lippi and the Medici—Beginnings of Art History—Cennini and
Ghiberti 120

CHAPTER XIII.

BUILDING IN THE DAYS OF LORENZO DE’ MEDICI.

Lorenzo’s Knowledge of Architecture—Giuliano da Majano at Home
and Abroad—Benedetto da Majano—The Strozzi Palace—Giuliano
Giamberti da Sangallo—The Castle of Ostia and the Villa at Poggio
a Cajano—The Convent of San Gallo—The Gondi Palace—Antonio
da Sangallo—Plan for restoring the Façade of Sta. Maria del
Fiore—Façade of Sto. Spirito—Palace of the Signoria—Clock of
Lorenzo della Volpaia—Simone del Pollaiuolo called Cronaca—New
Buildings and Streets—Works of Art in Town Houses and Country
Villas 146

CHAPTER XIV.

SCULPTURE AND PAINTING.

Andrea del Verocchio—Sepulchre of Piero and Giovanni de’
Medici, and other Works—Antonio del Pollaiulo—Benedetto
da Majano—Monuments of Giotto and Squarcialupi—Chancel
of Sta. Croce, &c.—Mino da Fiesole—Monuments of Bernardo
Giugni and Marquis Hugo—Ornamentation—Sepulchres of the
Sassetti—Woodwork—The Art of the Goldsmith and Die-cutting—The
Dossale in the Baptistery—Antonio del Pollaiuolo—Bertoldo—Andrea
Guazzalotti—Gem-cutting—The Medici Collection of Gems—Giovanni
delle Corniuole—Painters—Verrochio—Pollainoli—Alesso
Baldovinetti—The Dante Picture in the Cathedral—Historical
Compositions—Sandro Botticelli—Filippino Lippi—Cosimo
Rosselli—Ghirlandajo—Mosaics—Baldinovetti and Ghirlandajo—Garden
and Casino of San Marco—Michel Angelo Buonarroti—Leonardo da
Vinci 163

FIFTH BOOK.

_DEVELOPMENT OF THE SUPREMACY OF THE MEDICI._

CHAPTER I.

CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES IN FLORENCE.

Position of Lorenzo de’ Medici—Public and Private
Finance—Constitutional Reform—General and Select
Council—Council of Seventy and their Functions—Opinions of
Contemporaries—Alessandro de’ Pazzi on Lorenzo’s Financial
Position—The Taxation—Progressive Change of the Constitution—The
Magistracy—Signories, Collegia, Councils—The Podestà and his
Court—Magistracy of Eight—Guardians of the Law—The Council of
Ten for Peace and War—Capitani di Parte Guelfa—Officers of the
Customs and of the Public Debt—Officers of Trade—Guilds and
Philanthropic Institutions—New Conspiracy against Lorenzo de’
Medici—Re-capture of Otranto 187

CHAPTER II.

THE WAR OF FERRARA.

Dispute of Venice with Ferrara—The Allies of Both—Beginning
of the Campaign at the Po—Preparations in Rome—Sixtus IV.’s
Oppression—Proposals to Louis XI.—Battle of Campomorto—Danger of
Ferrara—Bad Management of the War—Threat of a General Council
against Sixtus IV.—Lorenzo de’ Medici’s Participation in the
same—The changed Policy of Sixtus IV.—Sixtus IV.’s Agreement with
his Adversaries—Lorenzo de’ Medici as Florentine Plenipotentiary
at the Peace Congress of Cremona—Opposition of Venice and
Continuation of the War—Ludovico il Moro and the Affairs of
Milan—Lorenzo do’ Medici and Ludovico il Moro—Ludovico il Moro
on Milan Affairs—Ludovico’s Negotiation with Venice—The Peace of
Bagnolo—Unfavourable Conditions for Ferrara—Death of Pope Sixtus
IV.—Confused State of Politics—Città di Castello and Siena—The
Sarzana Controversy—Occupation of Pietrasanta 197

CHAPTER III.

THE EARLY DAYS OF THE RULE OF INNOCENT VIII. LOUIS XI. AND FRANCE.

State of Rome in the Last Days of Sixtus IV.—Girolamo
Riario—Confusion on the Death of the Pope—Pope Innocent
VIII.—The Cybò Family—Character of Innocent VIII.—Congratulatory
Embassies—Florentine Embassy—Piero de’ Medici—Lorenzo de’
Medici’s Advice to his Son—Lorenzo on his Relations with the
Papal Chair—Latter Days of King Louis XI.—His Connection
with Florence—Louis XI. to Lorenzo de’ Medici—The Ring of
S. Zanobi—Extinction of the House of Anjou—Death of Louis
XI.—State of French Affairs after the King’s Death—Anne of
Beaujeu Regent for her Brother Charles VIII.—Opposition of the
Nobles—Anne de Beaujeu and Florence—Efforts of the French against
Maximilian of Austria at the Court of Innocent VIII.—Lorenzo’s
Foresight—Refusal of the Pope 213

CHAPTER IV.

POLITICAL TROUBLES. WAR OF THE BARONS.

The Sarzana Dispute in Presence of Innocent VIII.—Lorenzo de’
Medici in connection with Milan and Siena—Disturbances in
Siena—Political Balance—Political Situation of the Kingdom
of Naples—Ferrante of Arragon—Alfonso of Arragon, Duke of
Calabria—Alliance of the Barons—Capture of Aquila—Outbreak of the
War of the Barons—The Barons, the King, and the Pope—Innocent
VIII., Venice, and the Barons—Neapolitan Affairs and the People
of Florence—Unsettled Position of Affairs—Lorenzo de’ Medici in
Favour of King Ferrante—Lorenzo’s Counsel to the Arragonese 226

CHAPTER V.

EFFECTS OF THE WAR OF THE BARONS. FIGHTING ABOUT SARZANA.

Florence and the Neapolitan Controversy—Archbishop Rinaldo
Orsini—Beginning of the Conflict—Alfonso of Arragon in the
Campagna—Alfonso of Arragon in Pitigliano—Progress of the
War—Battle at Campagnano—Differences of Opinion in Rome—Proposals
for a Treaty—Duke René of Lorraine—Peace between Innocent VIII.
and Naples—Slight Satisfaction of the People of Florence—Roberto
da Sanseverino King Ferrante and the Barons—Effect of the Barons’
War upon the Fortunes of Naples—Lorenzo’s Difficulties and
Despondency—Connection with Naples and Ludovico il Moro—Attack on
Sarzana and Capture of the Town—Ludovico il Moro and Genoa 243

CHAPTER VI.

LORENZO DE’ MEDICI AS MEDIATOR BETWEEN ROME AND NAPLES.

Lorenzo de’ Medici and Innocent VIII.—Affair of Osimo—Boccalino
de’ Guzzoni—Surrender of Osimo—Boccalino in Florence—Boccalino’s
End—House of Medici—Death of Madonna Lucrezia—Maddalena de’
Medici and Franceschetto Cybò—Negotiations with King Ferrante
concerning the Marriage of Maddalena—Life and Character of
Franceschetto Cybò—Fresh Breach between Rome and Naples—Lorenzo
de’ Medici’s Despondency—Negotiations between Innocent VIII.
and King Ferrante—Lorenzo’s Opinion on the Relation of the
Pope to the King, and on the Political Situation—Weakness
of the Pope—Gian. Jac. Trivulzio in Florence—Mission of
Jacopo Gherardi to Florence and Milan—Lorenzo’s Exhortations
to Prudence—Lorenzo’s Instructions for the Negotiation with
Milan—Proposed Basis of Agreement—Illness of Lodovico il Moro 260

CHAPTER VII.

FAMILY EVENTS. MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.

Clarice and Maddalena de’ Medici in Rome—Maddalena’s Marriage
Contract and Dowry—Lorenzo de’ Medici’s Opinion of his
Son-in-Law—Connections of the Medici in Rome—Piero de’ Medici’s
Journey to Rome, and his Marriage—Alfonsina Orsini—Rejoicings
in Florence on the Visit of Franceschetto Cybò—Illness of
Madonna Clarice—Maddalena Cybò in Florence—Death of Clarice
de’ Medici—Her Character—Lorenzo de’ Medici on the Loss of his
Wife—Maddalena Cybò’s Return to Rome—Death of Ippolita Maria,
Duchess of Calabria—The Marriage of Gian Galeazzo Sforza—Piero
de’ Medici in Milan 278