A special exhibition honoring the Medici family is currently touring the United States. Natura Morta – Still-Life Painting and the Medici Collections consists of 43 works from the 16th to 18th century, by Italian, Dutch, Flemish and French artists. It also includes several pieces of Italian pietre dure (colored stone-works). I recently saw this gorgeous exhibition in St. Petersburg, Florida, where it was said to be ‘rendered with a ripeness, bordering on decadence’. Most of exhibition’s works are on loan from several Medici villas and Florence museums, including the Uffizi and the Galleria Palatina at the Pitti Palace.
These still-life works will soon be housed in the new museum at Medicean Villa Poggio a Caiano. Garzoni’s Ceramic Bowl with Pears and Morning Glories and Caffi’s Vase of Flowers with Sculpted Head and Vines of Flowers are now the tour. The Medici Villa of Poggio a Caiano was built by Lorenzo il Magnifico, on a plan designed by Giuliano da Sangallo. Begun in 1485 and finished in 16th century, it is decorated with wonderful frescoes by Andrea del Sarto, Pontormo and Alessandro Allori. The new Museo della Natura Morta will permanently display 200 still-life works, from a total of 900 from the Medici collections, which the family acquired over a 100-year period.
