The articles in this volume re-evaluate and present to an English-reading public the figure of Duke Cosimo I de' Medici (1518-72), the alleged destroyer of Florentine liberty . Although much maligned, it demonstrates that Duke Cosimo I was, in fact, an incredibly astute and successful ruler.
That Eleonora di Toledo had a tremendous impact upon Tuscan visual culture is a given but little is known about her contribution to the political, economic or spiritual life of the duchy. These edited papers explore Eleonora's influence and offer a biographical overview of her life.