The Institution of the Accademia delle Arti del Disegno in Medici Florence.Protagonists, Locations, and Controversies

The essay aims to draw attention to the initial moments of the Accademia del Disegno in Florence, the main players on the artistic and cultural scene, and the reasons behind its formation. Founded in 1563, the institution responded to a series of needs that originated both within the regime of Cosimo I and in the quarrelsome world of the Florentine workshops, constantly in search of rich and prestigious commissions. My paper will attempt to highlight the most significant instances in order to enucleate the decisive political and educational role entrusted to the new city body, rigidly organized internally in a series of offices that were accessed after an equally rigorous training.