Focus on Crossing of the Red Sea (Bronzino) and explore the Symbolism and portraiture.
This painting contains various allusions to the Medici's dynastic and political intentions. Moses can be equated to Cosimo I, who wants to lead his people to the promised land. The crossing of the Red Sea and the destruction of the Egyptian army alludes to the 1537 battle of Montemurlo where Cosimo I defeated the army trying to restore the Republic of Florence. The symbolism pointing to the battle isn't particularly subtle. A red Egyptian banner in the left background shows a portion of the coat of arms of the Strozzi family, one of the principal factions opposed to Medici rule. The appointment of Joshua by Moses refers to the birth in 1541 of Francesco, the son of Cosimo I and Eleanor and heir to the ducal state. This last allusion is strengthened by the pregnant woman portrayed behind Moses in the right foreground.
Portraits of donors, political figures, and artists embedded in religious works were common in sixteenth-century Florence. It appears that three of the men surrounding Moses in the right foreground are portraits. Only one has been positively identified. The man with the long dark beard portraying the priest Eleazar is Pierfrancesco Riccio who served as both Cosimo's secretary and a priest at the Florence Cathedral. The man in the red turban is a scholar based on the black coif under the turban, and his Florentine identity is thought to be the writer Pier Francesco Giambullari. The man in blue who is looking out of the fresco at the viewer might be a self-portrait of Bronzino. It has also been posited that the man kneeling in front of Moses in the right foreground is Eleanor's father, Don Pedro de Toledo.
battle of Montemurlo Florence Strozzi family Francesco promised land Moses Republic of Florence left coif fresco Joshua Don Pedro de Toledo donors Bronzino Florence Cathedral Eleazar