Cosimo I de' Medici (1519–1574), Duke of Florence 1539 - 1540

This marble bust, created by Florentine sculptor Baccio Bandinelli between 1539 and 1540, depicts Cosimo I de' Medici, Duke of Florence. The work captures Cosimo’s strong features and resolute gaze, emphasizing his powerful presence and authority. Dressed in a Roman-inspired cuirass and a flowing drapery, he embodies the ideal of a Renaissance ruler, a powerful leader with a keen intellect. The bust, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, serves as a testament to Bandinelli’s mastery of portraiture and his ability to portray the spirit of his subject.