Naumachia in the Court of Palazzo Pitti, from an Album with Plates documenting the Festivities of the 1589 Wedding of Arch Duke Ferdinand I de’ Medici and Christine of Lorraine

Art Historical Context

This etching captures a spectacular naumachia, or mock naval battle, staged in the courtyard of Florence’s Palazzo Pitti as part of the lavish festivities celebrating the 1589 marriage of Grand Duke Ferdinand I de’ Medici and Christine of Lorraine. Designed by the celebrated architect and stage designer Bernardo Buontalenti and etched by Orazio Scarabelli, the print belongs to an album documenting the Medici wedding’s theatrical events. The scene shows ornate ships maneuvering in a flooded courtyard transformed into a temporary lake, complete with towers, bridges, and costumed combatants. Such spectacles were central to Renaissance court culture, serving both to entertain and to display the wealth and power of ruling families. Buontalenti’s inventive engineering allowed the Pitti courtyard to host this aquatic drama, reflecting the Medici’s taste for immersive theatrical experiences that blended architecture, hydraulics, and pageantry. Created between 1589 and 1592, the etching preserves these ephemeral festivities for posterity. As a print, it exemplifies how etchings served as both artistic records and tools of political propaganda, allowing the grandeur of Medici celebrations to reach audiences beyond Florence. Today, the work offers a vivid glimpse into late-sixteenth-century court life and the artistic ingenuity that made these events possible.

About the Artist

Bernardo Buontalenti (Bernardo delle Girandole)|Orazio Scarabelli (Italian|Italian) · 1500 |1526 –1571 |1608

Italian, Florence 1500–1571 Florence|Italian, Florence ca. 1531–1608 Florence