Some Spanish Paintings in Florentine Collections. The Legacy of the Iberian Journey of Cosimo III de’ Medici

Abstract

Leaving Livorno, Cosimo III de’ Medici reached the Spanish coast, stopping for a few hours in Cadaques, Roses, and Palamos on the coast of Catalonia. Cosimo’s devotion to the Virgin Mary from an early age, confirmed by his biographer Sandrini, explains his visits to Marian churches in Spain and the variety of Marian objects acquired during the journey. This piety for Spanish devotional images of the Virgin continued after he returned to Florence as is shown by his presentation of a silver lamp made by the Florentine silversmith Arrigo Brunich to the Virgin of Montserrat in 1671. Cosimo’s devotion to the Virgin Mary from an early age, confirmed by his biographer Sandrini, explains his visits to Marian churches in Spain and the variety of Marian objects acquired during the journey. From the information on numerous acquisitions provided by documents from journey, it is likely that there could still be many more Spanish paintings—especially Spanish religious paintings—that have not been identified in Florentine institutions.