CHURCH OF SAN LORENZO IN FLORENCE

Church of San Lorenzo in Florence

Church of San Lorenzo in Florence

Introduction

The House of Medici was a political dynasty, banking family and later royal house who first began to gather prominence under Cosimo de' Medici in the Republic of Florence during the late 14th century. The family originated in the Mugello region of the Tuscan countryside, gradually rising until they were able to found the Medici Bank. The bank was the largest in Europe during the 15th century, seeing the Medici gain political power in Florence — though officially they remained simply citizens, rather than monarchs. The Medici produced four Popes of the Catholic Church and in 1531 the family became hereditary Dukes of Florence. In 1569, the duchy was elevated to a grand duchy after territorial expansion. They ruled the Grand Duchy of Tuscany from its inception until 1737, with the death of Gian Gastone de' Medici. The grand duchy witnessed degrees of economic growth under the earlier grand dukes, however, by the time of Cosimo III de' Medici, Tuscany was both morally and fiscally bankrupt.It is not unreasonable to say that Florence is a model of Renaissance culture. Although the Renaissance was a rebirth that occurred throughout almost Europe, the place that the Renaissance first arose was in Italy, Florence. This city standing on the main road connecting Rome with the north is not huge; it is often in comparison with Rome as well as David with Milanese Goliath. Florence, not Rome, produced a tradition of art, explosion of architecture, sculpture, philosophy and learning that stretched throughout the century.

Pop Leo X

Pope Leo X (11 December 1475 - 1 December 1521) was Pope from 1513 to his death. He was the last non-priest to be elected Pope. He is known primarily for the sale of indulgences to reconstruct St. Peter's Basilica and his challenging of Martin Luther's 95 theses. He was the second son of Lorenzo de' Medici, the most famous ruler of the Florentine Republic, and Clarice Orsini. His cousin, Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici, would later succeed him as Pope Clement VII (1523-34).

The Church Building

The second branch of the Medici family, the one headed by Cosimo I, was responsible for the grandiose Chapel of the Princes. Begun in the early 17th century it was planned as a family mausoleum for the Medici, and as a celebration of Grand Ducal power.

With the suppression of the religious foundations in the later 19th century, the Laurentian Library was legally separated from the church of San Lorenzo, and the Museum of the Medici Chapels was instituted, comprising the New Sacristy, the Chapel of the Princes and the Medici-Lorraine burial area. In 1907, the Opera Medicea Laurenziana was set up, in order to restore unity and seemliness to the Laurentian monuments'.

The most important work of art is undoubtedly the architecture. Just how closely the actual building adhered to Brunelleschi's plan, it is impossible to say. We can however recognise at San Lorenzo all the elements of renaissance architecture, ...