The Secrets Behind "Cosimo I de Medici as Orpheus" by Agnolo Bronzino

Can official court portraiture have any secrets hidden behind it?

Take this strange depiction of Cosimo I de Medici by Agnolo Bronzino, for instance. It’s currently on view at the MET blockbuster exhibition “The Medici: Portraits and Politics, 1512–1570”. Artnews gives a pretty standard explanation for why the young Medici Duke was depicted by the court painter in such a strange manner.

The most common view is that the Orpheus myth was meant to demonstrate Cosimo I’s peace-making intentions. In the painting, Orpheus can be identified by his musical instruments and the heads of Cerberus – the three-headed guard dog of Hades that Orpheus manages to pacify.

When 17 yr old Cosimo I came to power in 1537, he was greatly underestimated by members of the republican opposition, who thought they could manipulate the young Duke. Cosimo I proved them wrong by quashing his resistance and establishing political control. But he also wanted to create a public persona, which was very different to his predecessor – Alessandro de’ Medici, who had a reputation of being a tyrant. It’s possible that the mythological figure of Orpheus was used in that capacity.

But are things really that simple?

An investigation using infrared re-flectography techniques, during the 1985 cleaning of this work revealed some fascinating stuff

1 – in the original version of the work, Cosimo I was NOT naked. This means that Bronzino removed all of his clothing, leaving only the red drapery and revealing his slightly limp, very pasty and very naked body

2 - the head of the lira da braccio was reworked into a shape, reminiscent of female genitalia with what appears to be Medici balls placed along its edges

3- the growl of one of Cerberus’ heads was changed to a more docile snout, its gaze redirected towards the duke’s groin

4 – the bow was originally in a different, much less suggestive position, please see images… need I say more?

As well as being a skillful painter, Bronzino was a prolific poet. And some of his poetry was very, VERY risqué. Thus, the Orpheus painting, just like his burlesque capitoli, could be filled with double entendres and innuendos. It is entirely possible that the painting, which was possibly originally commissioned for the duke, may have been abandoned and reworked by Bronzino. Adding suggestive erotic elements, it may have become a subversive joke, intended as a gift for a close literati friend.