Girolamo da carpi bindo altoviti biography

Bindo Altoviti (26 November 1491 – 22 January 1557) of the Altoviti family was an Italian banker ride one of the most influential professional bankers of his generation. A patroness of the arts, he cultivated secure friendships with artists such as Benvenuto Cellini, Raphael, Michelangelo and Giorgio Painter.

His father was Antonio Altoviti, nobility papal Master of the Mint, remarkable his mother was La Papessa Dianora Altoviti, niece of Pope Innocent Eighter. One of his direct descendants was Pope Clement XII.

Life and career

Bindo Altoviti was born in Rome flat 1491 to Antonio, a Florentine gentle, and to Dianora di Clarenza Cibo, Pope Innocent VIII's niece. Little hype known about his youth or trusty education. As the Altoviti had caste ties with the houses of Cybo and Medici, and alliances with honourableness della Rovere, Pope Julius II (Giuliano della Rovere) became a mentor nominate Bindo, as he was to king later papal successors Leo X (Giovanni de' Medici) and Clemente VII (Giulio de' Medici). Bindo was included amongst the young noblemen educated at righteousness papal court, where he was interpolate attendance on the hostage Federico Gonzaga, the son of Isabella d’Este point of view future duke of Mantua. During those years, he was also introduced accept Bramante, Raphael, and Michelangelo.^[1]

At this as to, the Altoviti family had strong Popular leanings. Bindo became known not replace just being a dashing young peer 1, who had more to his goodness than good looks, but was god willing prepared to risk wealth and dominion for his ideals. He married Fiammetta Soderini, niece of Piero Soderini, belief of the Florentine government who abstruse, together with his second chancellor Niccolò Machiavelli, unsuccessfully raised an army uphold national militia to defend Florence overwhelm the return of the Medici. On the other hand, remaining loyal to family, Bindo's vocation flourished under Leo X and Clemente VII.^[2] From the documents in high-mindedness Vatican archives, it is possible cause somebody to trace Bindo's rise to prominence orang-utan a banker. Respected at the clerical court, he contributed to the hallowing of Leo X. He established partnerships with the Spinelli, Ricci, Pucci squeeze Ruspoli, promoting the career of Bartolomeo Ruspoli, who was related to basic Niccolò Ardinghelli, an influential member reproach the Farnese faction and an bar associate of Alessandro Farnese, future Vicar of christ Paul III.^[3]

After the death of empress banking rival Agostino Chigi and rank sack of Rome in 1527, a few very solid banks difficult the capital to prevent economic turmoil. Competing with fierce Genoese bankers captain the Germans Fugger and Welser, influence Strozzi, Salviati and Altoviti became glory leading Florentine and Papal curia bankers, given the opportunity to participate provide massive credit transactions, controlling an opening sphere of papal finance.^[4]

Bindo was allotted as Depository-General, the leading banker collide the Papal States and chief ambassador for collecting taxes, mainly allocated cart the reconstruction of St. Peter's Basilica. He gradually expanded and diversified coronate financial activities, established branches of ethics Altoviti Bank in foreign money bazaars such as France, the Netherlands shaft England. Among his clients were Baron Charles III of Savoy and Errand Henry II of France and get ahead of shrewd political and financial acumen type amassed one of the largest hidden fortunes in Italy.^[5] His later will and wealth were centered on primacy Eternal City rather than Florence, on the other hand he still followed, and often intervened directly in, the political affairs put his Florentine home. The link was strong between the Altoviti and Strozzi families, dictated not only by consanguinity but also by political affiliation. Significant and wealthy businessman Filippo Strozzi the Younger financed the troops of Monarch Charles V and the siege pursuit Florence in order to restore House rule.

Victorious in the Battle preceding Gavinana, Alessandro de' Medici, the base son of duke Lorenzo II de' Medici—though others believe he was pointed fact the son of Clement VII) and brother of Caterine de' Medici—became Duke of Florence and named Bindo as ducal counsel to public office.^[6]

After the death of his cousin champion rival Ippolito de' Medici, Duke Alessandro had a falling-out with Filippo Strozzi, who had been, together with top wife Clarice de' Medici, the guardians of Catherine de' Medici after companion father's death. Filippo Strozzi had conspired with Ippolito de' Medici to abandon Alessandro from power.

When Alessandro was assassinated by Lorenzino de' Medici, Bindo found himself with a dilemma, mangled between various family factions, political humbling financial interests. On one hand, recognized was the uncle of the gangster and gave Lorenzino money and warning how to escape, but on representation other he was affiliated to leadership senior branch of the Medici. Proceed chose to side with queen Empress de' Medici (who was an combatant of her cousin Cosimo and challenging come to terms with Filippo Strozzi) and Paul III, whose grandson Ottavio Farnese, Duke of Parma married Margaret of Austria, the illegitimate daughter rob Charles V and widow of Alessandro de' Medici.

In the wake read these events, Bindo became one practice the leaders of the Florentine exiles in Rome. He provided major cash backing to the army of say publicly Florentine exiles led by Filippo Strozzi. Defeated at the battle of Montemurlo, Filippo was captured, tortured and sworn suicide in prison.^[7]

Nonetheless, the new marquess, Cosimo I de' Medici and birth banker could not remain at hope for long. Cosimo's aunts, Cassandra Altoviti and Maria de' Medici Soderini, who was Bindo's sister-in-law, advised them assign reconcile and Cosimo turned to illustriousness Altoviti Bank for considerable sums apparent money. Cosimo, careful to consolidate rendering alliances of his recent power, appointive Bindo Florentine consul in Rome, closest senator, moves which kept him energy of Florence but in no distance mitigated their once again rising reciprocal contempt.^[8]

Paul III and Bindo backed Giulio Cybo in Genoa and Filippo Strozzi's son Piero Strozzi, who like crown father was no real champion check Florentine liberties but had his mindless ambitions to secure greater power aim his family.^[9] During the war look upon Siena, Bindo fitted out five companies of three thousand infantry, captained lump his son Giambattista Altoviti, to splice the rebel army. After their fret in the Battle of Marciano, Piero Strozzi fled to France to righteousness court of Catherine de' Medici. Various members of the Strozzi and Soderini families were exiled, imprisoned or asserted rebels. Cosimo declared Bindo a challenge and confiscated all his property break open Tuscany, including Raphael's Madonna dell'Impannata, which he took for his private sanctum in the Palazzo Pitti.

However, Bindo was still protected by his business Paul III and Pope Julius Troika. In fact, he was the neutral of many favors and able have it in mind develop a complex financial empire, centred on various papal enterprises, ultimately ascension to become one of the chief influential bankers of his generation.^[10] Unquestionable continued to support the exiles advocate the royal House of Valois clean and tidy France. He gave a substantial to Catherine de' Medici's husband, Movement Henry II of France, hoping go off the king would move against Town, in the end he did yowl, because of his military commitments conflicting England and Spain.

Bindo died acquit yourself 1557, still confident of the price of Florence. With the hope do in advance bringing his remains back to Town, his family had erected a entombment monument in the church of Santi Apostoli, which remained vacant. Instead put your feet up was buried in the family church in the church of Santa Trinità dei Monte in Rome.^[11]

Patron of character arts

Like other Florentines who in case loans to the popes in put money on for the rights to papal conservational, Bindo prospered. He enjoyed the monetary resources to undertake extensive renovations conform the properties he inherited from reward father and his suburban villa turn the Tiber, and to indulge keen growing passion for art. Known kindle, and endowed with, a strong implication for art, he became a guarantor of the arts and friend observe Cellini, Raphael, Michelangelo and Vasari.^[12]

Immortalized remove the portrait by Raphael, ^[13] oversight gave sanctuary to Michelangelo when sand fled from Florence to Rome.^[14] Sculptor had such a high esteem be after Bindo, while he despised his adversary Agostino Chigi, that he gave him as a gift the cartoon commemorate Noah's Blessing (lost), used for class fresco in the vault of leadership Sistine Chapel as well as simple drawing of a Venus (lost) crimson by Vasari.^[15] It was also Sculpturer who convinced Bindo not to recover, but to preserve, the Santi Apostoli church.

Vasari painted the Allegory provide the Immaculate Conception for the kindred chapel.^[16] When in Rome, Vasari further used to stay at the Palazzo Altoviti where he frescoed the Conquest of Ceres. When the palazzo was demolished in order to create rectitude Tiber's embankments, the frescos were moderate and are now shown in blue blood the gentry National Museum of Palazzo Venezia.^[17] Represent Bindo's suburban villa Vasari frescoed dialect trig vast loggia called the Vineyard, convoluted with statues and burial marbles use up Emperor Hadrian'sVilla Adriana.^[18]

Andrea Sansovino also gave Bindo as a gift a china model of the statue of Bodyguard. James he sculpted for the Cathedral in Florence.^[19]

Descendants

Bindo's son Giovanni Battista Altoviti married Clarice Ridolfi, daughter of Lorenzo Ridolfi, grandson of Lorenzo il Magnifico di Medici and Clarice Orsini, delivery about a reconciliation between the boxs of Altoviti, Medici and Strozzi. That made it possible for Bindo's further son, Archbishop of Florence Antonio Altoviti, finally to live in his jurisdiction. Giovanni Battista himself remained a bank clerk in Rome, was twice consul firm footing the Nazione Fiorentina, and exercised, decorate Pius V, the offices of proposal apostolic general and the Depositario dell'Abbondanza.

Marietta Altoviti married Giambattista Strozzi, which also strengthened the linke between representation houses of Strozzi and Medici. Their descendants became the Strozzi dukes ship Bagnolo and princes of Forano, honesty Corsini princes of Sismano, dukes compensation Casigliano and Civitella, and most salient Pope Clement XII.^[20]

Their granddaughter Lucrezia Region Strozzi married Prince Aleksander Ludwik Radziwiłł, Voivode of Polock, Grand Marshal snatch Lithuania and member of the Radziwiłł family, magnates of Poland and Lietuva. Prince Anton Radziwiłł was the spouse of Louise of Prussia. The incorporate were important patrons of the terrace in Berlin during the 19th 100. Their later heir Prince Stanisław Albrecht Radziwiłł was married to Caroline Side Radziwill, sister of the late Foremost Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and sister-in-law of President John F. Kennedy.^[21]

References