Bronzino: The Chapel of Eleonora of Toledo (1540-45)

Question 1

What was the Chapel made for?

Answer 1

Duke Medici’s wife

Question 2

West Wall

Answer 2

Miracle of the Brazen Serpent

Question 3

North Wall

Answer 3

Miracle of the Spring (Moses striking the rock)

Question 4

East Wall

Answer 4

High altar piece: the old vs the new (more saturated and the Madonna’s drapery is red rather than blue)

Question 5

South Wall

Answer 5

Crossing of the Red Sea

Question 6

Ceiling

Answer 6

The Vault

Question 7

Ceiling (The Vault)

- Composition of figures & decoration

Answer 7

• Figures: Saint Jerome, Pope Francis and his brother Leo, Saint Michael, Saint John the Evangelist.
• Centre: Around it seasonal fruit and flowers, Medici coat of arms painted over is a personified depiction of the holy trinity.

Question 8

Ceiling (The Vault)

- Similarities and differences

Answer 8

• Saint Jerome: The facial position and expression is the same
• Saint Michael: Came to Earth, and slays Lucifer’s army. No amour worn in the drawing. who is depicted more animalistic in the painting but more humanistic in the drawing.
• Saint John the Evangelist: The eagle is depicted smaller in the painting and bigger in the drawing.

Question 9

South Wall (Cross of the Red Sea) 
- Man carrying a basket drawing

Answer 9

• The anatomy
• Use of light
• Idealised body
• Assumption influenced by a sculpture (crossed legs)
• Real life model

Question 10

North Wall (Miracle of the Spring)

• Divine drawing of a woman
• Two men drinking

Answer 10

• Divine, taken from a small aspect of the composition

- Two figures, same model?