Descrizione del regale apparato per le nozze della serenissima madama Cristina di Loreno moglie del serenissimo don Ferdinando Medici III Gran Duca di Toscana
Medium
Printed book with etched illustrations
Dimensions
Overall: 11 13/16 x 8 1/4 x 1 3/16 in. (30 x 21 x 3 cm)
Classification
Books
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1931
Accession Number
31.72.7
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the glittering courts of late Renaissance Florence, this rare 1589 printed book, *Descrizione del regaleato per le nozze serenissima madama Cristina Loreno*, captures the splendor of a dynastic union. Created to commemorate the wedding of Ferdinando I' Medici, Grand Duke Tuscany, and Christine of Lorraine, it details the elaborate "royal apparatus"—temporary architectural marvels, triumphal arches, and festive decorations that transformed the city into a stage of opulence. Commissioned amid the Medici's golden age, the book served as both historical record and propaganda, showcasing Tuscany's wealth and cultural prowess to European elites. Etched illustrations by artists Raffaello Gualterotti, Antonio Padouani, and Francesco Terzio bring these ephemeral spectacles to life with remarkable precision. Etching, a innovative technique blending drawing and printmaking, allowed for intricate details of fabrics, sculptures, and crowds, making the grandeur accessible beyond the event itself. Measuring a compact 11⅞ × 8¼ inches, this leather-bound volume from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints collection (acquired via the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1931) offers visitors a tangible glimpse into 16th-century spectacle, where art and politics danced in perfect harmony.
About the Artist
Raffaello Gualterotti|Antonio Padouani|Francesco Terzio|Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany|Christine of Lorraine, Grand Duchess of Tuscany (Italian|Italian) · 1543 | –1639 |
Italian, Florence 1543–1639 Florence|