beautiful young men. He is inspired by them. As he was when he created our magnificent
David
.”
Lorenzo nodded. Donatello’s bronze sculpture of David was the centerpiece of the Medici courtyard in the Via Larga. All agreed it was a masterpiece, a sculpture of extreme beauty and daring, the first fully sculpted nude figure in the round to be executed since antiquity.
“Well, there are men in the Signoria, closed-minded and spiteful men, who do not appreciate our
David,
or the fact that Donatello’s inspiration comes from other men. Remember, my boy, that the reason we chose David as our central theme is that he is the pure shepherd who conquers the corrupt and mighty against all odds. And that is what we must do today. Defend the pure against those who would use their might to defeat him.”
Cosimo, renowned in Florence for his measured temperament, wasmuch beloved by the common folk and the nobility alike. The majority of sitting members of the Signoria were in awe of his influence and his brilliance. And so while he had to be patient with the order of the proceedings in the council chamber, he was quick to control the room and move them along to the issue he needed to address. Lorenzo watched his grandfather’s every move in awe and committed each moment of that day to memory.
The men who had complaints against Donatello each said their piece against the sculptor, who was significantly not in attendance. This absence was another stroke of genius by Cosimo, who knew that Donatello’s presence in the council chamber would be disastrous. Cosimo held his tongue in annoyance as he listened to the accusers. Each proposed that Donatello’s “immorality” was a negative influence on the Republic of Florence and that he flaunted his homosexuality in such a way as to encourage others to become sodomites. They knew that accusing the artist on a morality charge would likely create the harshest sentence against him.
Then Cosimo stood and addressed the Signoria. They awaited a measured and intelligent speech. But Cosimo de’ Medici stunned everyone in the council that day. He had a point to make—for Florence and for his grandson, who would one day rule in his place—and there was nothing measured about Cosimo’s defense of Donatello.
“How dare you!” roared the Medici patriarch, as he slammed his hand flat against the heavy table before him. “How dare you—any of you—take the position that you are experts on whom a man can and cannot love! How dare you be so presumptuous as to say what may or may not inspire a man to create art!”
There was shocked silence in the room as Cosimo lowered his voice. He began pointing at individuals in the chamber. “You, Poggio. And you, Francesco. You have both dined in my home and admired the sculpture of David that graces the center of the loggia. Tell me, what was your reaction to that piece of art?”
The first man, Poggio Bracciolini, was an ally whom Cosimo had planted in the Signoria that day. Poggio was a devoted humanist andpatron of the arts, and not incidentally a high-ranking member of the Order. His response was precisely what was expected of him. Later Cosimo would explain this strategy to Lorenzo: never ask a question in public unless you already know for certain that it will be answered in your favor.
“It is a masterpiece of sculpture. I have never seen anything as flawless as the
David
that was created for your palazzo,” Bracciolini replied perfectly.
The second man gave a similar response, with several other members of the council nodding in agreement. Florentines, for all their flaws, were ardent art lovers. Cosimo seized the moment and continued.
“Yes, Donatello’s
David
may even be the premiere work of art that we see in our time. Not since Praxiteles has there been such divinity in sculpture. And so I say to you all, who are you, who am I, who are any of us to question this man’s inspiration? If Donatello is able to create the most sublime
David
.”
Lorenzo nodded. Donatello’s bronze sculpture of David was the centerpiece of the Medici courtyard in the Via Larga. All agreed it was a masterpiece, a sculpture of extreme beauty and daring, the first fully sculpted nude figure in the round to be executed since antiquity.
“Well, there are men in the Signoria, closed-minded and spiteful men, who do not appreciate our
David,
or the fact that Donatello’s inspiration comes from other men. Remember, my boy, that the reason we chose David as our central theme is that he is the pure shepherd who conquers the corrupt and mighty against all odds. And that is what we must do today. Defend the pure against those who would use their might to defeat him.”
Cosimo, renowned in Florence for his measured temperament, wasmuch beloved by the common folk and the nobility alike. The majority of sitting members of the Signoria were in awe of his influence and his brilliance. And so while he had to be patient with the order of the proceedings in the council chamber, he was quick to control the room and move them along to the issue he needed to address. Lorenzo watched his grandfather’s every move in awe and committed each moment of that day to memory.
The men who had complaints against Donatello each said their piece against the sculptor, who was significantly not in attendance. This absence was another stroke of genius by Cosimo, who knew that Donatello’s presence in the council chamber would be disastrous. Cosimo held his tongue in annoyance as he listened to the accusers. Each proposed that Donatello’s “immorality” was a negative influence on the Republic of Florence and that he flaunted his homosexuality in such a way as to encourage others to become sodomites. They knew that accusing the artist on a morality charge would likely create the harshest sentence against him.
Then Cosimo stood and addressed the Signoria. They awaited a measured and intelligent speech. But Cosimo de’ Medici stunned everyone in the council that day. He had a point to make—for Florence and for his grandson, who would one day rule in his place—and there was nothing measured about Cosimo’s defense of Donatello.
“How dare you!” roared the Medici patriarch, as he slammed his hand flat against the heavy table before him. “How dare you—any of you—take the position that you are experts on whom a man can and cannot love! How dare you be so presumptuous as to say what may or may not inspire a man to create art!”
There was shocked silence in the room as Cosimo lowered his voice. He began pointing at individuals in the chamber. “You, Poggio. And you, Francesco. You have both dined in my home and admired the sculpture of David that graces the center of the loggia. Tell me, what was your reaction to that piece of art?”
The first man, Poggio Bracciolini, was an ally whom Cosimo had planted in the Signoria that day. Poggio was a devoted humanist andpatron of the arts, and not incidentally a high-ranking member of the Order. His response was precisely what was expected of him. Later Cosimo would explain this strategy to Lorenzo: never ask a question in public unless you already know for certain that it will be answered in your favor.
“It is a masterpiece of sculpture. I have never seen anything as flawless as the
David
that was created for your palazzo,” Bracciolini replied perfectly.
The second man gave a similar response, with several other members of the council nodding in agreement. Florentines, for all their flaws, were ardent art lovers. Cosimo seized the moment and continued.
“Yes, Donatello’s
David
may even be the premiere work of art that we see in our time. Not since Praxiteles has there been such divinity in sculpture. And so I say to you all, who are you, who am I, who are any of us to question this man’s inspiration? If Donatello is able to create the most sublime
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