Early Life and Training
Agnolo di Cosimo, known as Bronzino, was born in Florence, Italy on November 17, 1503. He was the son of a butcher and began his artistic training with Raffaellino del Garbo, followed by an apprenticeship with Pontormo, a prominent Mannerist painter.
Artistic Style and Influences
Bronzino's style is characterized by elegant, calm, and reserved figures, often lacking the agitation and emotion found in his teacher Pontormo's works. His portraits, particularly those of the Florentine elite, are renowned for their minute attention to detail and have influenced European court portraiture for centuries.
Notable Works
*
Venus, Cupid, Folly and Time (c. 1544-45), now in the
National Gallery, London
* Portraits of
Cosimo I de' Medici and his wife
Eleonora di Toledo, showcasing Bronzino's mastery of Mannerist portraiture
* Idealized portraits of the poets Dante (c. 1530, now in Washington, D.C.) and Petrarch
Legacy and Later Life
Bronzino became the official court painter of the Duke of Tuscany and remained in this position for most of his career. He was a founding member of the
Florentine Accademia delle Arti del Disegno in 1563. Bronzino passed away on November 23, 1572, in Florence.
Key Dates:
* November 17, 1503: Born in Florence, Italy
* 1539: Received Medici patronage for the wedding of Cosimo I de' Medici to Eleonora di Toledo
* November 23, 1572: Passed away in Florence