Schiavone, O;
(2016)
Luca Martini. Literature, Criticism, Art and Politics as Instruments of Duke Cosimo I’s Power in Renaissance Florence.
Doctoral thesis , UCL (University College London).
Abstract
The name of Luca Martini, politician, man of letters and iconographic consultant occurs in many documents, poems and treaties of Ducal Florence. Despite this abundance of documentary evidence, his character and work has never been studied as a whole. The aim of the thesis is to fill this gap and shed light on how culture contributes to create the image of power. Power, visual art, literature and patronage continuously interacted in Martini’s life and this perfectly matched Duke Cosimo’s policy of ensuring that his ambitions, his social position and prestige were endorsed by his subjects. In the 1540s Martini became an intermediary between Florence and many political exiles. He also helped with the foundation of the Florentine Academy and wrote much occasional verse. As a scholar, Luca devoted himself to the study of Dante. He collaborated in several editions of the Comedy and wrote an essay on Dante’s afterworld. In 1547, Martini was charged with the task of restoring Pisa, its countryside and the coastal defence system, following the ruinous war with Florence that had left Pisa impoverished. He also managed the supplies of food and weapons and supervised the activities of the arsenals. In Pisa Martini commissioned reliefs and sculptures as part of an ambitious allegorical programme concerning Pisa that Cosimo hoped would help him establish control over the city. Martini also acted as a patron towards artists such as Pierino da Vinci, Stoldo Lorenzi, Tribolo and Bronzino. In many works of art Martini is portrayed with the same posture of the Duke, hence exemplifying how Martini saw himself, that is, as an instrument for the instauration of a politics of consent.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Title: | Luca Martini. Literature, Criticism, Art and Politics as Instruments of Duke Cosimo I’s Power in Renaissance Florence |
| Event: | UCL( |
| UCL classification: | UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of Arts and Humanities > SELCS |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1493013 |
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