Italian Renaissance Courts
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Medici Villa of
Careggi
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Italian
Renaissance princely courts were expected to be opulent,
therefore, there were no the sumptuary restrictions to follow.
Wealthy aristocrats like Cosimo de' Medici were not allowed to
openly display their wealth. Princely wealth was attained
through conquest rather than through mercenary endeavors, and
an open display of splendor reflected to the common people the
ruler's power and reinforced their belief that the state was a
healthy entity.
The artistic and architectural holdings of such princely
rulers were emulated by wealthy individuals throughout Europe.
Similarly, the courts of aristocratic Italian Renaissance
nobility of the Medici,
Gonzaga,
Este,
and Sforza families competed to outshine each other without
blatantly copying.
Brenda Harness, Art Historian
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