Crossing of the Red Sea, Angolo Bronzino

Title: Crossing of the Red Sea
Artist: Bronzino
Location: Chapel of Eleonara da Toledo, Palazzo Vecchio, Florence
Date: 1540
Commissioner: Eleonora of Toledo

Eleonora of Toledo

• Came from Naples, which was taken over by the Spanish
• Viceroy runs Naples until 19th Century
• Eleonara is the daughter of the Viceroy of Spain
• Marraige to Cosimo is a sign of the Medici mixing with European royalty and gaining more political power
• Brings a lot of wealth + status to the marriage
  
• When Cosimo moved to the Palazzo Vecchio to show his power, Eleonora lives in Prior's Apartments

Crossing of the Red Sea:

• Refer's to Michelangelo's Moses
• The Hand is seen as the source of the command - ref. Sistine Chapel
• Depicts an act that pre-figues Christ's victory and death
• Idea of Hebrew exile is linked to the idea of Medici exile
  
• God help's Israelites - it is God's will that the Medici have returned
  
• Pregnant lady signifies fertility and the Golden Age of the Medici
• Shows off Bronzino's attention to classical sculpture and modern art and shows a focus on artistic rather than emotional content
  
• The people do not look like they are 'fleeing'
  
• Egyptian horses look artificial - bright colors flatten everything out

• The Biblical scene is depicted with the use of large figures which, seen from very near, gives the impression of an icy splendour, corroborated by the vivid colours. Some of the figures are clearly inspired by Michelangelo or Pontormo, as well as by the ancient statue sculpture. In particular, the foreground man on the left is a reproduction of the bronze Idolino (now in the Archaeological museum of Florence).