Vasari's Political Art: Exhibition on Cosimo I's Sala Grande in Palazzo Vecchio

A new exhibition in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio explores the political role of art in the Sala Grande (Salone dei Cinquecento), commissioned by Cosimo I de' Medici and decorated by Giorgio Vasari. The show, funded by the UNESCO Creative Cities Fund, runs until March 9, 2025, and features drawings, documents, and contracts revealing the 1563–1565 renovation. Curated by Carlo Francini and Valentina Zucchi, it highlights Vasari's collaboration with Cosimo I, the rapid execution involving artists like Bronzino, Ammannati, and Cellini, and the hall's symbolic program glorifying Medici rule. The ceiling was completed for the 1565 wedding of Prince Francesco to Giovanna d'Asburgo, while frescoes were finished later. Exhibits include three preparatory drawings by Vasari from the State Archives of Florence and the Uffizi, a letter from Cosimo I requesting a composition change, and a note on Michelangelo's opinion of the project. The hall's decoration, featuring allegories of Tuscan cities and Medici victories, was designed with erudite Vincenzo Borghini.