Francis I de’ Medici (1541-1587) was the eldest son of Cosimo I de’ Medici and his wife Eleonora de Toledo. He ruled Florence as Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1574 to 1578 and his life, like many dignitaries of the time, was full of conspiracy and surrounded by strange deaths, scandals and love affairs.
Politics didn’t seem to be of much interest to him, but fortunately for future generation, he devoted much of his time to the patronage of the arts, sciences, research and the illusion of alchemy. Francis was already born when Angolo Bronzino began to work for his father Cosimo. From 1539 onwards, Bronzino painted the members of the Medici dynasty, as well as the most distinguished members of the Court.
