Palazzo Medici-Riccardi

A real whirlwind of activity

So, yesterday afternoon's post obviously never came.   This is Mainly two to the repute immediately after posting That morning, we were off again to the second trip of the day: the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi.   This palace housed, initially, the first few generations of the Medici line (Cosimo, Piero, Lorenzo, etc.). before they moved into a new palace suitable for blackberries Their new nobility status. 

The building was designed by Michelozzo di Bartolomeo, who designed the Palazoo Also Strozzi (another aristocratic Florentine family).   Built between 1444-1484, a gigantic palace still used as Florence governmental offices. 

An original design produced by Filippo Brunelleschi was turned down by Cosimo the Elder but some aspects,: such as the integration of older and Renaissance design into the facade, were picked up and used by Michelozzo.  

Older:

- Stone loud mixture of sandstone and cement, giving the stone a very smooth finish. Lasts longer than other techniques.

- Rustication: Purposeful roughening of external rocks to give raw impressions.

Renaissance: 

Loggia: That Existed open walkway under the bulk of the building, like a porch That is recessed.

Internal courtyard: central courtyard viewable from the street. Gave this the lower status people a taste of what was inside, but it was still very low in tone.

The design is simple externally while housing a palatial interior. This mirrors the Medici, at That Time led by Cosimo de 'Medici. They gave the public a very simple face in Their direct actions and dealings, but Contributed to the cultures of early-Renaissance Florence many pieces of art. in fact, it is reported That Brunelleschi's proposed design was refused purely on the basis of it being "too lavish and magnificent." The Doctors Wished to Work Within the shadows. Those allowed into the building would be smacked across the face with many works of art and decorative constructions built only for the Medici.

  

After the main structure was completed, Cosimo's children were respinsible for furnishing and decorating the inside.   As Mentioned above, many works were completed purely for this task.   Most famous is the "Magi Chapel" featuring a large, three-walled cool That depicts the Magi's travel to see the newborn baby Jesus.   An interesting thing to note Is that many members of the Medici family were painted into the fresh as if they were Accompanying the Magi On Their journey.   Sadly, photography was not permitted inside the chapel. Here is a link discussing the work and the easter eggs hidden within it: 

http://www.palazzo-medici.it/mediateca/en/Scheda_Cappella_dei_Magi

In 1659 the Medici sold the palace to the Riccardi family, another aristocratic family in Florence who had married into the family.   By this point, many changes to the facade had taken place two to a changing political climate in Florence and Tuscany at large.   Once the Riccardi were in possession of the building, they made ​​many internal renovations in order to keep up with the fashions of the times at That point.   They also massively expanded it, actually taking over another building immediately next door, and included That in Their redesign. 

To honor the legacy of the Medici family, they commissioned a large ceiling fresco depicts That the major players over the years carousing with mythological figures (Neptune, Apollo, Venus).

These were the main points of the palace That I will go into great detail about, but there are pictures of several of the other rooms featuring works for and about the Physicians Throughout Their reign.  

I will condense this day's (March 3) adventures into one post That I will make later (my time) tonight, with pictures included.