( Read more... )

I know... I know historical accuracy is not the goal when it comes to movies with a period theme. But why can't there be ONE non-Tudor/Elizabethan 16th movie with accurate costumes? Just one? Pretty please?

"Dangerous beauty" was fun, but the costumes were mostly fantasy. That is, they have the basic concept of narrow bodice, full skirt and narrow ( Read more... )

Originally I thought green wasn't that popular for dresses in 16th century Italy. I thought there might be a link to the Ottoman empire and the muslims, where green were (and is) a sacred colour, and that Christians of this reason avoided green. I was very wrong ( Read more... )

October 15. 1534
Duke Alessandro de' Medici informs Chiarissimo de' Medici about the latest news from Rome. The Cardinals gathered for the conclave, and it appears that Cardinal Farnese has the best chance to become the next Pope.Read more... )

June 1. 1566
...while transporting 140 leather hides upon a ship from Pera [in Istanbul] to Dubrovnik, he was forced onto a French ship heading to the island of Chios. The hides are being held by the Turkish pasha of the sea, presumably for ransom.Read more... )

1603:
Mendoza also reports his need for clothing and states that the Italians do not spend nearly as much money on clothes as the Spaniards do.http://documents.medici.org/document_details.cfm?entryid=15046& ( Read more... )

The Palazzo Vecchio in Florence has started putting out short, entertaining videos on YouTube. The costumes used are in general not perfect, but quite lovely, and it's a nice glance into the historical building. I watched these two today:

Click to view

Click to view

Sometimes in the 1580s an anonymous artist made a portrait series of several of the Medici family members. I particularly liked the ones of the children of Cosimo I and Eleonora di Toledo. Most, or all, are based on existing portraits by Bronzino, Allori and other Florentine artists. Some are successfull (I love the Isabella one), others a bit more ( Read more... )

ISABELLA DI COSIMO DE' MEDICI (1542 - 1576)Isabella was the second daughter of Cosimo I and Eleonora di Toledo. She was born right after her elder halfsister Bianca (Bia) died, and is said to have been of great comfort to her father. She was the owner of Poggio Imperiale, one of the Medici villas in Tuscany, and seems to have had more freedom than ( Read more... )

Renaissance Facebook is back!

1549 March 29
Simone Genga attempts to procure a lion and a bear for Duke of Urbino Guidobaldo II della Rovere from Cosimo I. Cosimo is unable to offer a male lion for breeding but can provide a sterile female lion and the bear.Read more... )