Eleanora di Toledo, Duchess of Florence
Bronzino, Portrait of Eleonora di Toledo with Her Son Giovanni, 1544–45, oil on panel, 115 x 96 cm. Uffizi Gallery, Florence. Photo: © Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank
A portrait of a duchess
In a spectacular portrait of Eleonora di Toledo, the second Duchess of Florence, she sits beside her young son Giovanni. Painted by the Italian artist Agnolo Bronzino around 1545, the portrait helps us understand Eleonora’s role in consolidating Medici power during a transformative period in Florentine history. Through her sumptuous Spanish-style dress and composed demeanor, Bronzino presents Eleonora as both an emblem of dynastic strength and a model of female dignity.
Beyond her image, the portrait allows us to consider her political skills, savvy economic management, and cultural patronage, showing how she helped shape the Medici legacy and redefined women’s public roles in Renaissance Florence. Learn more about Eleanora with our video.
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Bronzino, Portrait of Eleonora di Toledo with Her Son Giovanni, 1544–45, oil on panel, 115 x 96 cm. Uffizi Gallery, Florence. Speaker: Dr. Heather Graham.
