April 7th IFJM Lorenzo de Medici

Lorenzo de Medici
circa 1533

by Giorio Vasari

Lorenzo de Medici was born in 1449 and died in 1492

The portrait was painting Posthumously about 41 years after his death. 

It was commissioned by Alessandro de Medici a distant cousin of Lorenzo.

The painter Gioria Vasari was what you would call today a true renaissance man in that he mastered many subjects including that of a painter, sculptor, architect, and art historian. Vasari wrote a book called LIVES OF THE MOST EXCELLENT PAINTERS, first published in 1568 and later translated into English in 1912. Which is a good thing because I was able to download and read some of it last night. He wrote about most of the paintings that will comprise this exhibit. And as you can see he was a wonderful painter in his own right. I hope to have time to write him a nice biography next to this painting as he is truly the father of Art History. It is one thing to be a wonderful painter, but then to also write about and hold in great esteem other painters, now that is something!

Lorenzo, the subject of this painting was known as a great patron of the arts. And he could sure afford to be one as he is from one of the wealthiest families in Florence. Along with his grandfather Cosimo de Medici they donated more than 663,000 florins or $460 million US dollars. He had 10 children and died ironically died April 8th which is tomorrow! His body's final resting place is found beneath Michelangelo’s the statue of Madonna.  A quick internet search has revealed many portraits of this famous man as  he is featured in  art by Botticelli, Michelangelo, Andrea del Verroccohio, Girolamo Macchetti, as well as on a coin from Florence around that time.

He was known to have a broad frame, short legs, a squashed nose, short sighted and a harsh voice. With such a description I should have great fun drawing his likeness. 

Here is a collage of my sketches. I decided to just paint only choice bits using my Tombo marker and paintbrush.