Eleonora di Toledo and the Invention of the Medici Court in Florence

This exhibition, held in the Tesoro dei Granduchi, examines the pivotal role played by Eleonora di Toledo — Spanish-born duchess and wife of Cosimo I de' Medici — in forging the image and ceremonial culture of the Medici court in sixteenth-century Florence.

Through paintings, decorative arts, textiles, and archival documents, the show illuminates how Eleonora's patronage, personal style, and political acumen helped transform the Florentine court into one of the most sophisticated in Europe. A richly illustrated catalog accompanies the exhibition, offering in-depth essays and new scholarly research.