Florentine Patricians and Their Networks: Structures Behind the Cultural Success and the Political Representation of the Medici Court (1600-1660)

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In 'Florentine Patricians and Their Networks', Elisa Goudriaan presents the first comprehensive overview of the cultural world and diplomatic strategies of Florentine patricians in the seventeenth century and the ways in which they contributed as a group to the court culture of the Medici. The author focuses on the patricians’ musical, theatrical, literary, and artistic pursuits, and uses these to show how politics, social life, and cultural activities tended to merge in early modern society. Quotations from many archival sources, mainly correspondence, make this book a lively reading experience and offer a new perspective on seventeenth-century Florentine society by revealing the mechanisms behind elite patronage networks, cultural input, recruiting processes, and brokerage activities. Acknowledgements List of Figures Abbreviations and Spelling Introduction The Traditional View A New View Periodization, Methodology, and Structure Social Networks Archival Research in Florence and Rome Insights into a Rich Cultural and Intellectual World 1 Florentine Patricians and Their Changing Social and Political Position (1530–1670) Introduction 1.1 The Forming of the Duchy of the Medici in Florence 1.1.1 1531–1537 – The Reign of the First Duke Alessandro de’ Medici and Changing Political Institutions 1.2 The Nomination of Duke Cosimo I, the Patricians’ Loss of Political Power, the Arrival of Non-Florentine Courtiers and the Patricians’ Quest to Regain Political Influence (1537–1609) 1.2.1 Cosimo’s Quest for Political Independence 1.2.2 The Patricians’ Counterquest for Political Recognition 1.3 The Patricians’ Run on Noble Titles, Their Social Domination over the ‘Uomini Nuovi’ and Their Growing Political Power (1609–1670) 1.4 Social and Economic Power of Seventeenth-Century Patricians 1.5 The Patricians’ Contribution to the Economic Stability of Tuscany in the Seventeenth Century 1.6 Cittadini or Noble Courtiers? 1.7 Patrician Careers in Tuscany, Rome and Malta Conclusion 2 Florentine Patricians in Their Role as Ambassadors and Chamberlains and Their Influence on the Social and Cultural Representation of the Medici in Florence, Rome and at Other Courts Introduction 2.1 Patricians as Diplomats 2.2 Patricians as Ambassadors 2.2.1 Giovanni Niccolini (Tuscan Ambassador in Rome from 1587 until 1610) 2.2.2 Piero Guicciardini (Tuscan Ambassador in Rome from 1611 until 1621) 2.2.3 Other Patrician Ambassadors and Their Direct Influence on the Course of Events at the Court of Madrid and Rome 2.3 A Florentine Patrician as Chamberlain of a Medici Prince and His Influence on the Social Representation of the Medici in Rome: Filippo Niccolini and His Decisions Regarding the Entry of Cardinal Giovan Carlo de’ Medici into Rome (1645) 2.3.1 The Decoration of the Carriage: Polished or Gilded Ironwork? 2.3.2 The Uniforms and the Ceremonial Mace: Recycling, but Not Too Obvious 2.3.3 The Decoration of Palazzo Madama 2.3.4 The Public Entry of Cardinal Giovan Carlo de’ Medici into Rome (1645) Conclusion 3 Patricians as Patrons and Collectors during the Reigns of Ferdinand I, Cosimo II, the Regents and Ferdinand II de’ Medici Introduction 3.1 Patricians as Patrons and Collectors during the Reigns of Ferdinand I and Cosimo II de’ Medici 3.1.1 Giovanni Niccolini (1544–1611) 3.1.2 Piero Guicciardini (1569–1626) 3.1.3 Michelangelo Buonarroti the Younger (1568–1647) 3.1.4 Niccolò dell’Antella (1560–1630) 3.2 Patricians as Patrons and Collectors during the Reigns of the Regents and Ferdinand II de’ Medici 3.2.1 Giovan Battista Strozzi the Younger (1596–1636) 3.2.2 Tommaso Guadagni (1582–1652) 3.2.3 Giovanni (1600–1661) and Lorenzo (1602–1656) di Jacopo Corsi 3.2.4 Filippo Niccolini (1586–1666) Conclusion 4 The Shared Cultural World of the Medici Princes and the Florentine Patricians: Musical Performances, European Networks, and Cultural Academies Introduction PART I 4.1 Giovanni de’ Medici and the Alterati 4.2 Giovan Carlo de’ Medici and Filippo Niccolini 4.2.1 Niccolini as Supervisor of Giovan Carlo’s Cultural Projects 4.2.2 Niccolini’s Correspondence with Musicians: New Baroque Influences from Rome 4.2.3 Niccolini’s Contacts to Clients of Queen Christina of Sweden 4.3 Leopoldo de’ Medici (1617–1675) and His Cultural Contact with Florentine Patricians 4.3.1 The Acquisition of Books and Works of Art on Paper 4.3.2 Leopoldo’s Interest in Theatre Life at Different Italian Courts 4.3.3 Relations with European Men of Letters PART II 4.4 Patricians, Artists, and Their Literary, Linguistic, and Theatrical Experiments at Florentine Cultural Academies and Confraternities 4.4.1 Literary and Linguistic Academies 4.4.2 Theatrical Academies Conclusion 5 The Brokerage Activities of Michelangelo Buonarroti the Younger and the Exchange of Cultural Gifts Introduction PART I 5.1 Social Networks 5.2 Patronage Networks 5.2.1 Patrons, Clients, and Friends 5.2.2 Dyadic, Non-corporate Groups 5.3 Brokerage Networks 5.3.1 Brokerage Networks in Theory 5.3.2 How Did a Broker Make Profit? 5.3.3 Dyadic Chains 5.4 Maintaining Patronage Relationships: Exchanging Courtesies and Gifts PART II 5.5 The Social Network of Michelangelo Buonarroti the Younger 5.6 The Exchange of Gifts and Genealogical Information between Buonarroti and Florentine Patricians at Different Italian and European Courts 5.6.1 Books, Manuscripts, and Genealogical Information 5.6.2 Poems and Songs 5.6.3 Food Gifts 5.6.4 Buonarroti’s Own Works as Gifts 5.7 The Brokerage Activities of Michelangelo Buonarroti the Younger 5.7.1 Social and Geographic Mobility of Artists 5.7.2 Cultural Brokerage Services and Arranging Gifts 5.7.3 Improving Patron-client Contacts and Bringing Commissions to Completion 5.7.4 Job Requests Conclusion 6 The Patricians’ Contribution to Cultural Events the Medici Organised for Public Ceremonies and in Honour of Visiting Guests Introduction 6.1 Theatre Plays in Honour of Visiting Guests 6.1.1 Theatre Plays in Honour of Fakhr ad-Din 6.1.2 Theatre Plays in Honour of Other Important Guests 6.2 The Patricians’ Contribution to the Organisation of Memorial Ceremonies 6.2.1 The Memorial Ceremonies of 1598, 1610, and 1612 6.3 The Patricians’ Contribution to the Organization of Marriages 6.3.1 The Marriages of 1600 and 1608 6.3.2 Descriptions of Marriages and Memorial Ceremonies 6.3.3 The Marriages of 1637 and 1661 Conclusion Conclusion Appendix I: Archival Sources Referring to Chapter 2 Appendix II: Archival Sources Referring to Chapter 4 Appendix III: Archival Sources Referring to Chapter 5 Appendix IV: Archival Sources Referring to Chapter 6 Glossary Copyright of Figures Bibliography Index