Il BRONZINO 
Agnolo di Cosimo di Mariano Tori, known as Il Bronzino, or the little bronze
man. He had, as he himself said, the skin of a Moor.
He was born on November 17, 1503 in Monticelli, a small village on the
outskirts of Florence. After two mediocre teachers, he met
Pontormo. With a
teacher of this caliber, he discovered his own idiom, refined his vision and
perfected his technique. It is also interesting to note that Vasari was also
Pontormo's student. Il Bronzino's Life, by Vasari, is one of the most
exact and reliable there is.
In 1526, he executed his first solo work: the four tondi in the Santa
Felicità Church in Florence.
In 1539, Florence was preparing for the marriage of Duke Cosimo I de' Medici to Eleanor of Toledo. Il Bronzino was commissioned to create four bas-reliefs in bronze, painted in trompe l'oeil.
This work was so marvelous that the couple was immediately seduced, and they immediately named Il Bronzino the court painter for the Medici dynasty. He was famous and all Florence wanted him.
His cold and strict, sensitive and keen psychological penetration of the model, along with perfect technique, would produce the most beautiful Mannerist portraits that exist.
After a stay in Rome (1546-1548), he painted a series of religious works,
including the Resurrection in the Annunziata and Christ in Limbo
in Santa Croce.
He died in Florence in 1572.
