Frescoes in the Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence (1683-85)
by Luca GIORDANO

The Palazzo Medici (later Medici Riccardi) was the symbol of the economic power of the Medicis who were the virtual lords of Florence in the 16th-17th centuries. In 1659 Ferdinando II de' Medici (1610-1670), the Grand Duke of Tuscany, sold his family's venerable and imposing palace, built by Michelozzo in the fifteenth century, to Gabriello Riccardi (1606-1675) and his nephew Francesco Riccardi (1648-1719). The Riccardi family had moved to Florence from Cologne in the fourteenth century, and in the sixteenth century attained great wealth from banking and commerce.

A number of architects contributed to the remodeling of the palace which took thirty years. The most spectacular intervention into the original fabric was the construction, beginning in 1670, an east-west gallery wing. In 1676 the library was built directly beside the gallery. In 1684-89 another new wing was built to the north.

The new owners' pride in the tradition-rich history of their palace is expressed in the painted decoration of the newly created rooms. In the Great Hall of the building, called the Gallery (Galleria Riccardiana), the ceiling was covered by frescoes in 1683-85 by the Neapolitan painter Luca Giordano, in order to show off the glories of the Medici family. Baroque civilization entered Florence with Pietro da Cortona in Palazzo Pitti and with Luca Giordano in Palazzo Medici Riccardi (1683-85).

Preview Picture Data File Info Comment
View of the Galleria Riccardiana
1683-85
Fresco
Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence

1079*1300
True Color
252 Kb



View of the Galleria Riccardiana
1683-85
Fresco
Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence

1400*938
True Color
221 Kb



Ceiling decoration of the Galleria Riccardiana
1683-85
Fresco
Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence

947*1200
True Color
226 Kb



Centre section of the ceiling
1683-85
Fresco
Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence

1000*1220
True Color
242 Kb



Ceiling decoration (detail)
1683-85
Fresco
Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence

1516*900
True Color
251 Kb



Ceiling decoration (detail)
1683-85
Fresco
Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence

1407*900
True Color
223 Kb



Ceiling decoration (detail)
1683-85
Fresco
Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence

1015*1200
True Color
216 Kb



Ceiling decoration (detail)
1683-85
Fresco
Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence

1527*1000
True Color
277 Kb



The Creation of Man
1683-85
Fresco
Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence

1254*1000
True Color
220 Kb



Scene from the figural frieze
1683-85
Fresco
Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence

1500*919
True Color
236 Kb



Scene from the figural frieze
1683-85
Fresco
Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence

1500*944
True Color
230 Kb



Scene from the figural frieze
1683-85
Fresco
Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence

1500*936
True Color
246 Kb



Scene from the figural frieze
1683-85
Fresco
Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence

1500*947
True Color
223 Kb



Allegory of Wisdom
1685
Fresco
Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence

1000*1324
True Color
258 Kb



Apotheosis of the Medici
1680-82
Oil on canvas, 139 x 65 cm
Private collection

756*1600
True Color
208 Kb




Paintings by Luca Giordano
Oil paintings
Religious themes | Mythological and allegoric themes
Frescoes
Frescoes in the Palazzo Medici Riccardi
Various fresco decorations