February 18th, 1743 Anna Maria Luisa, the last descendent of the Medici family, died. She was a forward thinking woman and she was fundamental in defining Florence as the city of art for which it is now known the world over. Among her achievements was the “Patto di familia” which established that the Lorraine, the new ruling family, could not transport “or get out of the capital and State of the Grand Duchy …
Galleries, Paintings, Statues, Libraries, Jewels and other precious things…. of the succession of the Most Serene Grand Duke, so that they would remain by ornament of the State, for the benefit of the public and to attract the curiosity of foreign visitors.” With this pact, Anna Maria Luisa made sure that Florence kept the majority of the works of art that were part of the Medici patrimony. Anna Maria Luisa is one of the reasons why Florence is so rich in art and this post goes our as a thank you to new.
