"Medici Holy Family" by Andrea del Sarto
The piece of art that I chose to analyze and study is called Medici Holy Family. According to Franco Cesati in The Medici: Story of a European Dynasty, it was commissioned by Pope Leo XI, who’s given name was Alessandro Ottaviano de’ Medici. I found this painting in a book, The Medici: Story of a European Dynasty, that I brought back from my trip to Florence in the summer of 2008. What caught my eye in this painting and drew my attention was the contrast between the dark background and the bright highlights and colors in the dress of the women in the foreground. I had a difficult time finding any specific information on this piece of art, however I did find information on the connection between the artist, Andrea del Sarto, and the Medici family. As his reputation as an artist grew, so did his connections with the Medici family. On the Britannica’s online site, it is stated that Sarto was commissioned to paint portions of the frescos in the Vila Medici near Florence. He painted a small fragment but never finished because the project was cut off when its patron Pope Leo X died. According to the Britannica, it is now incorporated into other frescos. Now that there is a background established for the artist, let’s return the focus painting of this entry. I enjoy how the body lines and positions of the subjects in this painting are smooth and natural. However, my favorite part of the painting is the dress and shall or sash of the woman in the foreground. The detail of the folds in the dress and the was the color shows perfect highlight is beautiful. I do not know why, but it is the reason I chose this painting, it caught my eye and I could not stop looking at it. According to the book I bought in Florence, this painting was completed in the late years of Sarto’s life. When I searched for information on the painting I found that it was painted in 1529, which is the year before he died. I belive it was painted in Florence, it is now housed in Uffizi.
