Born:
November 17, 1503; Florence, Italy
Died:
November 23, 1572; Florence, Italy
Nationality:
Italian
Art Movement:
Mannerism (Late Renaissance)
Field:
painting
Influenced by:
Raffaellino del Garbo, Pontormo
Influenced on:
Alessandro Allori
Agnolo
di Cosimo, commonly known as Bronzino or Agnolo Bronzino, was an Italian
Mannerist painter from Florence, born on November 17, 1503 and died on November
23, 1572. His nickname “Bronzino” seems to be derived from his dark skin or
reddish hair.
He
lived all his life in Florence and, from his late 30s, served as the court
painter of Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. He was primarily a
portraitist, but he also created paintings on many religious subjects and
several allegorical subjects, including his most famous work, "Venus,
Cupid, Folly and Time."
 |
| Venus, Cupid, Folly and Time, Bronzino (c.1545) |
Bronzino
was a pupil of Pontormo, the leading Florentine painter of the first generation
of Mannerism, and his style was greatly influenced by Pontormo. His reputation
suffered from critical views towards Mannerism in the 19th and early 20th
centuries, but now his works are well received.
 |
| Visitation, Pontormo (1528–29) |
According
to his contemporary artist Vasari, Bronzino was the pupil of Raffaellino del
Garbo, a Florentine painter of the early Renaissance, and then of Pontormo.
 |
Madonna and Child with saint Joseph and an Angel, Raffaellino del Garbo (1499-1524) |
The
painter Alessandro Allori was his favorite pupil. Alessandro was also the
father of Cristofano Allori, an Italian painter who led late Florentine
Mannerism. Bronzino was living in Allori’s home when he died in Florence in
1572.
 |
Christ with Mary and Martha, Alessandro Allori (1625) |
 |
Judith with the Head of Holofernes, Cristofano Allori (1613) |
Thank
you.
