Cosimo I de' Medici (1519-1574) was an Italian nobleman and politician, Duke of Florence and, since 1569, the First Grand-Duke of Tuscany. The “Ritratto di Cosimo I de Medici”, painted by Agnolo Bronzino in 1545, represents him in three-quarters in a full armor with his right hand laying on his helmet. It’s an official portrait, with a dark background which emphasises the rigid figure of the Duke, who is turned towards his left. Cosimo’s eyes are peering into something on his right unknown to us. An unnatural light coming from the right lights up the painting that features warm and earthy tones. The portrait is oriented vertically and the figure of the Duke occupies the whole scene. The artwork, an oil on canvas, exhibited in his original golden wood frame, is now situated in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

Bianca Bia de' Medici (1537-1542) was the first daughter of Cosimo I de Medici and a not well known figure. She was raised to the ducal court to the care of her grandma, Maria Salviati. Bianca died at the age of five after a journey with her father to Arezzo. Her only portrait the “Ritratto di Bia de Medici” was painted by Agnolo Bronzino in 1542. The painting represents the child in a light sumptuous dress, with a lot of jewels (such as her earrings or her necklace). It’s an official three-quarter portrait, as we can see from her rigid figure and her impassible gaze. The dark background is enlightened in correspondence of the girl’s head that so stands out. The atmosphere of the painting it’s formal and algid. The portrait has a metallic element that distances the artwork from reality. The painting is now situated in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

Maria Lucrezia de' Medici (1540-1557) was the firstborn of the duke of Florence Cosimo I de Medici and of his wife Eleonora di Toledo. She was betrothed to Alfonso II d’Este, but their wedding was never celebrated because she died at the age of seventeen of malaria. Her only portrait, the “Ritratto di Maria di Cosimo de Medici”, was painted by Agnolo Bronzino in 1551. Maria is represented half length, in a frontal position and her sad and pensive gaze is addressed to the viewer. Bronzino is very careful in portraying the top quality dark dress of the girl who was at that time seven/eight years old. The background is dark and compact and the light that enlightens Maria is cold and distances the artwork from reality. It’s an official portrait that reflects the high social status of the girl. The painting is now situated in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

Francesco de' Medici (1541-1587) was the first male heir of Cosimo I de Medici and Eleanor of Toledo.In 1574 he became the second Grand-Duke of Tuscany. The “Ritratto di Francesco I de Medici Giovinetto” was painted by Agnolo Bronzino in 1551. Francesco is represented at the age of ten, half length, with short dark hair and a pale oval face enlightened in its right side. He is holding in his hands a folded letter. The background is dark and empty and this stands out the silhouette of the future Grand-duke . The portrait is oriented vertically and the figure of Francesco occupies the whole scene. The painting is now situated in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

Isabella de' Medici (1542-1576) was one of the daughters of Cosimo I de Medici and Eleanor of Toledo. In 1556 she got married to Giordano I Orsini and in 1560 she became the first Duchess of Bassano. In 1562, after her mother’s death, she became the maternal figure for her younger brothers. She died mysteriously at the age of thirty-four and her husband has been believed her killer for centuries. Her most famous portrait, the “Ritratto di Isabella de Medici”, was painted by Alessandro Allori in the XVI century. The picture represents her in three-quarters in a sumptuous dress embroidered with pearls . It’s an official portrait, with a dark background that presents some architectural structures. The painting is now situated in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

Giovanni de' Medici (1543-1562) was the fourth son of Cosimo I de Medici and Eleanor of Toledo. He was one of the youngest Italian cardinals in history thanks to the importance of his family. There are two known portrait of him as a child: the “Ritratto di Eleonora di Toledo con il figlio Giovanni” and the “Ritratto di Giovanni de' Medici”, both painted by Agnolo Bronzino. While there is only one known portrait of him as a young man: the “Ritratto del cardinale Giovanni di Cosimo de' Medici". The painting, attributed to Cristofano dell’Altissimo dates back to 1561. Giovanni is represented half length, with his cardinal’s garment. The background is dark and compact. The painting is now situated in Pitti Palace in Florence.

Lucrezia de’ Medici(1545-1561) was the fifth daughter of Duke Cosimo I de Medici and Eleanor of Toledo. She was duchess consort of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio, thanks to her marriage with Alfonso d’Este, combined for her after her sister Maria Lucrezia’s death. Her most famous portrait, the “Ritratto di Lucrezia de’ Medici”, was painted by Agnolo Bronzino in 1560. It’s an official three-quarter portrait, as we can see from her rigid figure and her impassible gaze. The background is dark and compact. The painting is now situated in the Art Museum of North Carolina in the United States of America.

Garzia de’ Medici (1547-1562) was the fifth son of Cosimo I de Medici and Eleanor of Toledo. At the age of thirteen he was appointed Honorary Commander of the Pontifical and Tuscan galeys. During a journey with his family on the Tuscan coast he died of malaria. His most famous portrait, “Ritratto di Garzia de Medici bambino”, was painted by Agnolo Bronzino in 1549-1550.Garzia is represented at the age of two even if his face seems older. His gaze is pointed towards the centre of the painting. He is wearing a red silk dress decorated with golden threads. Garziais holding a white flower in his right hand and keeping a big pendant, an amulet against evil, in his left hand. The colours of the portrait are warm and bright and the space is realistic .The painting is now situated in the Prado Museum in Madrid.

Eleonora di Toledo (1522-1562) was the first wife of Cosimo I de Medici and the mother of eleven of his children. Her most famous portrait “Ritratto di Eleonora di Toledo con il figlio Giovanni” was painted by Agnolo Bronzino in 1545. The painting represents the Duchess with her little son Giovanni who was two years old. The woman is wearing a sumptuous embroidered dress and her face is void of expression. While her gaze is peaceful, that of her son is restless. It’s an official portrait that reflects the sixteenth century ideal of absolute power through an absolute impassibility of the subjects. The background is dark and only apparently flat, it represents a leaden sky with, in the distance, a view of the estate of Poggio Caiano. The painting is now situated in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

Camilla Martelli (1545-1590) was a mistress and then the morganatic wife of Cosimo I de Medici (1570). She was the grounds of disagreements between the Grand-Duke and his sons in the last part of his life. They had a daughter in 1568, Virginia, who was legitimized and integrated into the Tuscan line of succession after their marriage. Her only known representation is a silhouette on a medal datable 1584 and attributed to Pastorino de Pastorino. The medal is now situated in the Museum of the Martelli family in Florence.

Ferdinando I de’ Medici(1549-1609) was the seventh son of Cosimo I de Medici and Eleanor of Toledo. He was appointed cardinal in 1562 but, after his brother Francesco I’s death, he became the third Grand-duke of Tuscany from 1587 until his death. In 1589 he married Christine of Lorraine. His famous portrait ”Ritratto di Ferdinando I de Medici” was painted by Alessandro Allori in 1587. In the painting he is represented in three quarters, seated with his body slightly turned and looking to the left. His expression is devoid of emotion. The only element of the scene is the chair on which the cardinal is sitting. The background is dark, on the left there is a window from which we can see/ the landscape and draws heavily the frescoes of the tower of the winds in the Vatican) non ho capito la parte tra parentesi e non trovo riscontro sul quadro. The painting is now situated in the National Museum of the Royal Palace in Florence.

Pietro de Medici(1554-1604) was the last-born of Cosimo I de Medici and Eleanor of Toledo. He had a career as a politician and ambassador and at the age of nineteen he became general. He is represented in two portraits, a first one attributed to Bronzino and the second one to Santi di Tito. The second one, called “Ritratto di Don Pietro de Medici” and painted in 1586, is an oil on canvas. It represents Pietro with his bust and gaze towards his right. In the right hand he is holding a stick and in the left a sword. On the background there is a closed place, on the right we can see a rich curtain and on the left a door. The painting is now situated in Uffizi Gallery in Florence.