Image source: artfund.org
Apotheosis of the Medici
Artist:Luca Giordano
| 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. |
“Apotheosis of the Medici” painted by Luca Giordano, is a graceful depiction of mythological characters. It reflects the authority of the Medici family in the context of elevating them in the company of the Gods. Here, it is crucial to note that Florence at the time was a classic example of a subject town. According to scholar, Fernand Braudel, subject towns were those which were shaped heavily by state's central authority. This painting is a reflection of that.
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Ragini Shete