#mannerism

The figure of Justice or Divine Wisdom holds a laurel wreath over the industrious figures on the left (representing the arts and sciences) while holding a birch rod over the indolent, reclining figures on the right. The composition reflects Romanism, a movement in which Northern artists like Floris integrated Italian High Renaissance elements such as Michelangelo’s muscular figures. During the 1560s, Antwerp was a hub for such intellectual art, often commissioned by wealthy patrons to celebrate civic peace or philosophical ideals. Loc. Alte Pinakothek, Munich, Germany. Dim. 109.5 cm H x 139.5 cm W (43 1/8 x 54 15/16 in.).

The youngest, Pietro, plays with the Order of the Golden Fleece at his mother's waist, while a winged allegory of Fame crowns the entire family group. The piece carries an intriguing mystery noted by Giorgio Vasari, who described the composition as including Cosimo's daughters, Isabella and Lucrezia, and a personification of Florence inside the central tondo held by the couple, details absent from the final artwork. Exhibited in the prestigious Tribuna of the Uffizi in 1589, it was purposefully positioned opposite an ancient Roman cameo of Emperor Antoninus Pius to demonstrate that Renaissance craftsmanship could rival, and even surpass, the heights of classical antiquity. Loc. Treasury of the Grand Dukes, Pitti Palace, Florence, Italy. Dim. 18.8 cm x 17.0 cm (7.4 in x 6.6 in)