Giovanni di Cosimo de 'Medici

myminifactory

Giovanni de' Medici (1421-1463) was born to Cosimo Il Vecchio (the Elder), a man of great influence, and his younger brother Piero de' Medici. These brothers played significant roles in shaping Florentine and Italian history during the mid-fifteenth century. Their impact was felt across multiple spheres: economic, political, diplomatic, cultural, and artistic. Mino da Fiesole's marble busts of the brothers, crafted around 1453 and 1455 respectively, showcased groundbreaking innovations. The brothers' passion for classical literature and their collection of ancient coins and sculpture inspired these sculptures. Despite drawing upon the prestige of ancient precedent, independent, secular busts of living people were a modern novelty that resonated deeply. Both sculptures ultimately found homes above doors in the Palazzo Medici, although they predated its completion in 1459. They were not designed as pendants, but rather stood on their own merit.