Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Medici Chapel

Our next stop was the Medici Chapel, final resting place of 49 Medicis.  The Medici family had been in the wool trade, then, in the late 14th century started a bank. They used their vast fortune to control local politics, and were big patrons of the arts. Two Medici went on to become pope.


San Lorenzo
The chapel is located adjacent to the Basilica di San Lorenzo, one of Florence's oldest churches.  The original church was built in the 4th century, but was "upgraded" in 1425 when Cosmo the Elder decided the Medici clan needed a more suitable resting place.  The plain brown stone of the façade is not indicative of what's inside.

Cosmo hired the same architect who had designed elements of the Duomo.  He also commissioned pieces by Donatello for the interior.  The availability of unique stone in Tuscany is evident in both the church and the chapel.  Columns of pietra serena (soft grey stone) give the church a very harmonious feel, and, at the time it was built was unlike anything seen before.

Chapel from Piazza San Lorenzo
For the chapel, you have to go outside and around behind the church (the Medicis rated their own, private entrance). Today, visitors come in on the crypt level, then walk upstairs to the chapel and the new sacristy, which was designed by Michelangelo. 


Anna Maria Luisa
di Medici
In addition to the burial vaults of the lesser-known Medici, the crypt contains a number of reliquaries (vessels containing bones of various saints). 

There was a special exhibit, "Sacred
Treasures & Grand Ducal Piety," that had more ornate reliquaries and items commissioned by the Medici -- insinuating that the wealthier they got, the more they tried to buy the grace of the church.

It worked...Cosmo I was named Grand Duke of Tuscany by Pope Pius in 1569. His installation was treated like a full coronation.

The reliquaries from his collection were ornate.  We found one we really liked...























the reason why
is that it had a dachshund on the front!













Above the crypt was the main chapel, an octagonal room with eight sarcophagi and statues.  This was the original resting place for those Medici who were Grand Duke of Tuscany or Pope.  The whole chapel is marble, except for the dome, which is painted. 


each monument has a sarcophagus with the Grand Duke pillow and crown

 
the dome
 
Since 1999, the chapel has been undergoing restoration.  That year one of the keystone pieces in one of the arches fell out.  The video they have of the restoration  work makes up for the fact that half the room is covered in scaffolding or cordoned off for safety reasons.







Beyond the chapel was the New Sacristy.  Sculptures by Michelangelo adorn the sepulchres of Lorenzo the Magnificent (d. 1492), Guliano, brother of Pope Leo X (d. 1516) and Lorenzo, nephew of Leo X (d. 1519).  These were among the last works Michelangelo did in Florence before leaving for Rome to do the Sistine.

Tomb of Lorenzo the Magnificent

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