The Election of Giovanni de' Medici to Papacy
1555 - 1562
Giorgio Vasari crammed this massive scene with Medici pride, depicting Giovanni de' Medici's elevation to Pope Leo X in 1513. Notice the chaotic mix of solemn bishops in pointy hats and a relaxed, bearded nude figure lounging in the foreground—likely a river god symbolizing Florence itself. Painted for Cosimo I de' Medici to glorify his family's power, this work turns a historical election into a grand political billboard. The trumpeting soldiers and prancing horses on the right add a military flair to what was primarily a religious ceremony.
- Technique
- Fresco
Location: Palazzo Vecchio, Florence
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