In the coming weeks, I thought we might have a series of ‘tours’ of our Watermill bedrooms, all of which have been painstakingly restored and, we think, elegantly decorated.
All our Watermill bedrooms and apartment suites are named after famous Italian artists, mainly of the Renaissance but also moving into the later Mannerist period. Today I would like to introduce you to Bronzino, both the 16th century Florentine painter and the bedroom named after him. Lois made the short video above, which captures the atmosphere of the latter.
Agnolo di Cosimo (1503–1572) is usually known as Bronzino, perhaps because of his tanned skin, or reddish hair. He was a Mannerist painter who trained with Pontorno and was court painter to Cosimo I de’ Medici. He is noted for the glittering portraits of the Grand Duke and his family. Below is perhaps the most famous of them, a portrait of Cosimo’s wife Eleanor of Toledo and their son Giovanni de’ Medici.
Giovanni looks a little bored to me, but well aware of his status in 16th century Florence society. Eleanor’s dress and jewels reflect the power of the Medici family, but I always think she looks a little sad. (*This portrait was one of our One-Stop Uffizzi visits and you can learn more about it by clicking here.)
The Bronzino bedroom commands magnificent views over the courtyard and gardens, with the Apennine mountains, the backbone of Italy, in the distance. It’s the perfect setting for a couple or two friends sharing (we can make the double bed into two singles) during our inspiring creative weeks.
Come and join us: we promise you will have a bigger smile than Eleanor’s, whichever Florentine genius you choose, Bronzino or Brunelleschi, Donatello, Fra Angelico, Ghiberti, Gentileschi, Ghirlandaio, Lippi, Uccello, or Vasari (more about them in later blogs). Details of all our renowned creative courses can be found by clicking here. Come and celebrate Italian genius with us.