A Princely Education. Cosimo III de’ Medici’s travels through the Netherlands: Global Ambitions and Local Contexts

The international conference focuses on the historical, political, social and artistic contexts of Cosimo III’s travels through the Netherlands (1667-1668) and later Spain, Portugal, England, Ireland, the Netherlands and France (1668- 1669). It is organized on occasion of the opening of the exhibition “The Global Eye. Dutch, Spanish, and Portuguese Maps in the Collections of the Grand Duke Cosimo III de’ Medici” (Florence, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, 7 November 2019 to 29 May 2020). The conference addresses the tension between Cosimo III’s global ambitions and his local concerns, both in his private and public life.

It is organized by Angelo Cattaneo (University of Groningen / CHAM, FCSH, Universidade Nova de Lisboa), Sabrina Corbellini (University of Groningen), and Michael W. Kwakkelstein (NIKI Florence) with the support of the Istituto Universitario Olandese di Storia dell’Arte (NIKI, Florence), the University of Groningen and the Accademia della Crusca.

The conference is open to the public free of charge. Pre-registration is required: nikinikiflorence.org


PROGRAM:
6 November 2019 - Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana (Piazza San Lorenzo, 9)

14:45 Anna Rita Fantoni (Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana): Director’s Welcome

Session 1
“Alcune carte di geografia”: Contextualising the Carte di Castello
Chair: Sabrina Corbellini (University of Groningen)

15:00 Henk Van Veen (University of Groningen): The travels of Cosimo III de’ Medici through the Netherlands and their impact on his life and reign

15:30 Kees Zandvliet (University of Amsterdam): Joan Blaeu, his network and his work revisited

16:00 Martine Gosselink (Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam): The Vingboons Workshop

16:30 Angelo Cattaneo (University of Groningen - CHAM, FCSH, Universidade Nova de Lisboa): “The Cosmos is Cosimo’s World”. The Medici and Cosmography

17:30 Opening of the exhibition "The Global Eye. Dutch, Spanish, and Portuguese Maps in the Collections of the Grand Duke Cosimo III de’ Medici" / "Sguardi globali. Mappe olandesi, spagnole e portoghesi nelle collezioni del granduca Cosimo III de’ Medici"


7 November 2019 - NIKI Florence (Viale E. Torricelli, 5)

9:45 Michael W. Kwakkelstein (NIKI Florence): Director’s Welcome

Session 2
Tuscany and the Netherlands: Mutual Reflections
Chair: Henk Van Veen (University of Groningen)

10:00 Igor Melani (Università degli Studi di Firenze): Sguardi toscani sulla civiltà olandese del Seicento

10:30 Marcello Verga (Università degli Studi di Firenze): “Il primo principe che, spogliato da ogni passione e da ogni interesse, pensasse alla libertà e al bene dei suoi sudditi” (Heinsius a Cosimo III)

11:00 – Coffee Break

Session 3
Tuscany and the Netherlands: Artistic Exchanges
Chair: Michael W. Kwakkelstein (NIKI Florence)

11:30 Paula Nuttall (Victoria and Albert Museum, London): The Early Medici and Netherlandish Painting

12:00 Christiaan Vogelaar (Museum De Lakenhal, Leiden): Cosimo III and Leiden

12:30 Miguel Taín Guzmán (University of Santiago de Compostela):
Artworks, City Views, Books, and Devotional Objects Acquired by Cosimo III during his Spanish Journey (1668-69)

13:00-14:30 Lunch

Session 4
Cosimo’s World: Global and Local Trade
Chair: Rolando Minuti (Università degli Studi di Firenze)

14:30 Robert Parthesius (University of Leiden - NYU Abu Dhabi):
The VOC Trading Routes at the Time of Cosimo III

15:00 André Murteira (CHAM, FCSH, Universidade Nova de Lisboa):
Dutch-Portuguese Conflicts Outside Europe at the Time of Cosimo III

15:30 Corey Tazzara (Scripps College, Claremont): Livorno ‘porto franco’ during the Age of Cosimo III

16:00 – Coffee Break

Session 5
Personal Life and Networks
Chair: Stefano Casciu (Polo Museale della Toscana)

16:30 Hans Cools (Catholic University of Louvain): Francesco Feroni: the Dutch factotum of Cosimo III

17:00 Sabrina Corbellini (University of Groningen): Shopping in the Bookshop of the World: Cosimo III and the Dutch Book Network

17:30 Vincenzo Lagioia (Università di Bologna): “Se sia veramente mia moglie”. Marguerite Louise, Cosimo III and the practice of the raison d’état

18:15-18:40 Cristina Italiani (Associazione musicale “Il Plettro”, Vittorio Veneto): Concerto per flauto solo: Martino Bitti (1656-1743) e Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778). Saggi di musica al tempo di Cosimo III.

18:40 – Aperitivo


8 November 2019 - Accademia della Crusca (Via di Castello 46)

10:00 Paolo D’Achille (Accademia della Crusca): Welcome Address

Session 6
Da Amsterdam alla Villa Medicea di Castello
Chair: Giovanna Frosini (Accademia della Crusca)

10:15 Francesca Cialdini (Università degli Studi di Firenze, collaborator Accademia della Crusca): Tra Italia e Olanda: gli Accademici della Crusca intorno a Cosimo III

10:45 Hosea Scelza (Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio, Firenze): La Villa Medicea di Castello: l’achitettura

11:15 – Coffee break

11:45 Ilaria Giannotti (collaborator Università degli Studi di Firenze): Le carte di Cosimo III de’ Medici nella Villa di Castello

12:15 Marco Mozzo (Polo Museale della Toscana): La dispersione delle collezioni nella Villa di Castello

12:45 Paolo Galeotti (Polo Museale della Toscana) La Villa Medicea di Castello: i giardini e le serre di Cosimo III (on-site visit depending on weather conditions)

13:15 Angelo Cattaneo and Sabrina Corbellini
Concluding remarks

13:30 Lunch

14:45-16:30 – Visit of the Villa Medicea La Petraia. Guided by Marco Mozzo and Andrea Bellandi (Polo Museale della Toscana)

16:30 Return to Florence by private bus (free; pre-registration is required to guarantee seating)