Friday, December 12, 2008

Mystery Solved

One of my readers was kind enough to identify the cover portrait for me. The painting, Portrait of a Young Girl Holding a Book, was painted in 1545 by the Florentine painter Agnolo di Cosimo, known as Il Bronzino (1503-72). Nicknamed in all likelihood for his dark complexion, Bronzino was the pupil and adopted son of the painter Pontormo. For most of his career Bronzino worked as court painter for Duke Cosimo I de' Medici. He decorated the private chapel of the duke's wife, Eleanor of Toledo, and painted a highly detailed portrait of her and her son in 1550 (below). Bronzino is known for his vivid use of color and analytical detachment from his subjects, as well as the enamel-like finish he gave his works. He painted many religious and allegorical themes (a fine example is An Allegory with Venus and Cupid, below) but is best known for his portraiture. He helped found the Florentine Academy of Fine Arts in 1563. Also a poet, Bronzino wrote and circulated more than 300 poems over the course of his career.

To view more paintings by Bronzino, as well as some by Rosso Fiorentino, one of the characters in my current novel, visit The Pontormo and Rosso Fiorentino Room at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

The young woman in the portrait remains unidentified but is probably connected to the Medici court. Many thanks to reader Ody for help in placing the painting!



6 comments:

Bearded Lady said...

Your blog is quite a find! I will add you to my site.

I love your virtual cover. The portrait is a dead ringer for Cosimo's illegitmate child Bia, but she died before 1545. The girl looks too much like Cosimo and Eleanora to not be related.

I am a big fan of the medici. Stop by at: http://blog.raucousroyals.com

Julianne Douglas said...

BL, I did visit your site, and it's just wonderful. I added you to my blogroll. Thanks for visiting, and please come back and chime in often.

I think I came across a portrait of Bia as a young child in my search for this portrait. I'll have to see if I can find it again. I'm sure it was by Bronzino.

Catherine Delors said...

This is one of the few instances where I support headless. This mystery lady looks like she is in a bad mood...

Julianne Douglas said...

Catherine, I laughed out loud when I read your comment! I thought the same thing. She looks too serious for her own good, or like she's thinking, "I'm only doing this because Dad is making me." I do like the simplicity of the portrait, however.

cindy said...

oooh. i love these paintings! julianne, i tagged you for a book meme! have a wonderful holiday!!

Alan Fisk said...

Bronzino's Allegory with Venus and Cupid is the subject of my novel Cupid and the Silent Goddess.

See:
http://www.twentyfirstcenturypublishers.com/index.asp?PageID=496