Giorgio Vasari, "Ritratto di Alessandro de' Medici", 1534. By permission of the Ministry of Culture – Gallerie degli Uffizi.

Giorgio Vasari is an example of an eclectic Renaissance intellectual and artist. Throughout his career he remained at the service of the Medici as court painter and architect, receiving many commissions, including The Portrait of Alessandro de’ Medici. First Duke of Firenze, Alessandro is portrayed in a composition full of allegorical meanings. The shining armor is synonymous with his qualities as a leader, the red cloak symbolizes the blood of the defeated enemies, the circularity of the stool indicates that his reign would never end. The laurel branch reborn from the cut trunk is a tribute to the Medici dynasty, ever stronger despite the obstacles to be faced. An artwork that celebrates Alessandro’s values, the courage and the confidence of the new Medicean generation.

Since the dawn of the Renaissance, Florence has pulsed as a crucible where intellectuals, artists, scientists and musicians meld their diverse knowledge.Thanks to the groundbreaking patronage of the Medici, the city transforms into an expansive stage birthing an experimental community. Artist studios and academies, charged with vibrant fervor, emerge as epicenters of creative alchemy. From these Florentine depths rises an eclectic ethos, sculpting novel paradigms of beauty and morality. These same values are the pillars of Ferragamo’s vision whose ethos intertwines with a modern symphony of creatives – from creatives directors and photographers to artists, sound designers, and scholars. Together, they forge a dynamic community, shaping a multifaceted tapestry of contemporary artistry and thought.