Cosimo de' Medici il Vecchio 

Jacopo Pontormo rendered this drawing of Cosimo de' Medici, the Elder, in Florence, sometime in the first half of the 16th century. This image encapsulates the complex relationship between art, power, and patronage that defined the Italian Renaissance. Cosimo de' Medici, though not a ruler in the traditional sense, exerted immense influence through his vast wealth, derived from banking. Pontormo's portrait reflects this power, not through overt symbols of authority, but through a refined and intellectual demeanor. The artist subtly communicates Cosimo’s status through his clothing and bearing. In Renaissance Florence, artistic production relied on the patronage of powerful families like the Medici, who used art to legitimize their rule and shape their public image. To truly understand this drawing, we need to delve into the social and economic structures of Renaissance Florence, using sources such as family records, financial documents, and inventories of art collections. Only then can we fully appreciate the complex interplay between artistic creation and the exercise of power in this transformative period.