Bronzino's Portrait of Eleanora of Toledo and Her Son

Love in Renaissance Italy was brutal. Misogyny prevailed in society - women were classed as a less rational, inferior sex, consumed entirely by their passions and men were strongly discouraged from spending a lot of time in female company. It was considered much more virtuous for a Renaissance man to spend his time in the company of other men, engaged in masculine pursuits and conversations. A woman’s body and mind was considered an imperfect copy of the male ideal and therefore “homosocial” relationships and friendships were to be preferred.

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In other words, it was just not socially acceptable to hang out with your wife.

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But Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany was a little different – he liked his wife’s company. Very much. In fact, he adored her.

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In 1561, the Venetian ambassador made a special observation of Cosimo I’s devotion to Eleanora by noting that “Cosimo is intimate only with the lady duchess, his wife, which makes him even more admirable”. In a similar vein, one of Cosimo I biographer’s - Giovanni Battista Adriani, noted that Cosimo I "lived very happily with [Eleanora], each loving the other more than can be believed.”

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Cosimo I loved spending time with Eleanora – they often went fishing and horseback riding together, played tennis and enjoyed poker games in the company of Cosimo I’s male companions.

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Their tender union produced 11 children.

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In 1562, their son, Giovanni, pictured here in Bronzino’s portrait, died at the age of 18 after contracting malaria following a trip to Pisa. Eleanora, grief-stricken, died a month later from the same disease.

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Bronzino’s polished portraits were often described as cold and lifeless but for Cosimo I, who has just lost two sons and a beloved wife in a period of two months, this portrait must have served as the most touching and precious reminder.

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The story of Eleanora’s elaborate dress is, perhaps, no less important than the two main characters that are depicted.

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Who do you think takes centre stage in this double-portrait by Bronzino – the costume or the people?

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Bronzino, Portrait of Eleanora of Toledo and Her Son, circa 1545, Oil on panel, Uffizi Gallery.