Apotheosis of the Medici
| Support Type: | Canvas |
| Paint Type: | Oil Paint |
| Current Location: | The National Gallery, London, England |
| Location History: | Marchese Francesco Riccardi, Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence; acquired by the Earl of Shrewbury after 1822 and then in the Shrewsbury collection at Ingestre, Staffs; the Allegories of Fortitude, Justice, Prudence and Temperance and the Mythological Scene with the Rape of Proserpine were acquired by Sir Denis Mahon from the Matthiesen Gallery, London, in 1950. Matthiesen, who had acquired them from Lord Shrewsbury; the remaining five paintings in the series were acquired by Sir Denis Mahon in 1952 directly from Lord Shrewsbury. On loan since 1999; presented by the Trustees of Sir Denis Mahon’s Charitable Trust through the Art Fund, 2013. |
Luca Giordano (1634-1705) was a leading painter from the Neapolitan Baroque era, having his career expand all across Italy and Spain. He received his initial training in the circle of Jusepe de Ribera and got influenced by the Caravaggesque naturalism and tenebrism. Afterwards, he refined his art style upon encounters with different art masters such as Veronese, Pietro da Cortona, Rubens, Mattia Preti, and Bernini. He had the skills to imitate these masters which led him to earn the nickname “Luca fa presto” (Luca works fast), which once led him into trouble when the critics dismissed his art as superficial. Luca gained popularity for his monumental, decorative frescoes in Naples and Florence, especially the Medici-Riccardi Palace. In 1692, Luca was summoned by Charles II to create the main decorations at the Escorial, Buen Retiro, and Toledo Cathedral in Spain. His luminosity in colours and imaginative compositions helped him in bridge the Late Baroque and emerging Rococo, and his reputation was significantly restored by modern scholarship. “Apotheosis of the Medici” by Luca Giordano was painted between 1682-85 for the decoration of ceiling for the Galleria in Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence. The composition was designed by Alessandro Segni, the progress of mankind presented by Wisdom and Virtue, along with the Medici family elevated into the company of the gods as models of these qualities. Giordano made these oil modelli to work out the fresco plans and get approval for how everything would fit together. The central subject is Jupiter— a symbol of divinity and authority— surrounded by radiant light, eagles, and a thunderbolt. Under Jupiter, Cosimo I de’ Medici is placed, with the other Medici figures the four Cardinal Virtues: Prudence, Justice, Temperance, and Fortitude. Other mythological, planetary figures such as Apollo, Aurora, Saturn, Mars, and Venus surround them. The series of stars above the figures refer to the “Medici Stars,” named after Jupiter’s moons by Galileo— creating a dynamic celestial world. The modello/ fresco is a segment of 12 preparatory paintings, helping the viewrs to understand the complexity.