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{{Infobox noble house|surname=House of Altoviti|type=[[List of marquesses in Italy|Noble family]]|coat of arms=Coat of arms Altoviti.png|image_size=160px|country=Florence, Italy|titles=Marquis<br>Count<br>Patriarch of Antioch<br>Archbishop of Athens<br>Archbishop of Fiesole<br>Archbishop of Florence|founded={{Start date and age|1200}}|cadet branches=Altoviti Medici<br>Altoviti Cybo<br>Altoviti Avila<br>Altoviti SanGalletti|founder=Altovito Corbizzi <br>(1200 - 1250)}} |
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The '''Altoviti '''are a prominent noble family of [[Florence]], [[Tuscany]], [[Italy]]. |
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Since the medieval period they were one of the most distinguished [[List of banking families|banking and political families]] appointed to the highest offices of the [[Republic of Florence]], friends and patrons of [[Galileo Galilei]], [[Giorgio Vasari|Vasari]], [[Raphael]] and [[Michelangelo]]. |
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They had a close personal relationship with [[Pope|the papacy]]. Through a predominant endogamous marriage policy they established alliances with dynasties of [[papal nobility|principal and papal nobility]] as the [[House of Medici|Medici]], [[Cybo]], [[Aldobrandini family|Aldobrandini]], [[Rospigliosi family|Rospigliosi]], [[House of Sacchetti|Sacchetti]] and [[Corsini family|Corsini]]. |
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Three popes have blood relations with the Altoviti; [[Pope Innocent VIII|Innocent VIII]], [[Pope Clement IX|Clement IX]] and [[Pope Clement XII|Clement XII]]. |
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[[Pope Innocent VIII]] was the uncle of ''La Papessa'' Dianora Altoviti Cybo. Her son [[Bindo Altoviti]] became one of the most influential papal bankers and patron of the arts of the Renaissance. |
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The '''House of Altoviti''' is still present and descendants continue to be involved in art and culture. |
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== Notable members == |
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[[File:Raphael - Bindo Altoviti - Google Art Project.jpg|thumb|Portrait of [[Bindo Altoviti]] by [[Raphael]]]] |
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Frequently members of the family distinguished themselves in value, defending or serving the Florentine Republic holding prestigious public, political, military and religious offices. |
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* Giovanna Altoviti (1305-1395), known as Madonna Aldobrandini |
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*Iacopo Altoviti (1348-1403), Bishop of Fiesole |
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*Bardo di Altoviti (1342-1405), one of the [[Eight Saints]] |
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* Antonio Altoviti (1454-1507), papal banker and papal Master of the Mint |
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*[[Bindo Altoviti]] (1491-1557), papal banker and patron of the arts of the Renaissance |
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*[[Antonio Altoviti]] (1521-1573), Archbishop of Florence |
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*[[Giacomo Altoviti]] (1604-1693), Apostolic Nuncio to Venice, Patriarch of Antiochia and Archbishop of Athens |
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* Filippo Nero Altoviti (1634-1702), Bishop of Fiesole |
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*Antonio Altoviti Avila (1963, actor and producer, Academy Award-winning movie [[Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow]]) |
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==Origins== |
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[[Pope Pius II]] presumed the family would be of Roman origin as in Fiesole was found a tomb with a Roman inscription quoting ''Furio Cammillo Altovita grandson of [[Marcus Furius Camillus|Furio Camillo]],'' general, statesman and one of the most famous heroes of the early [[Roman Republic]], honored with the title of Second Founder of Rome for his victory over the Gauls during the [[Battle of the Allia|Gallic siege of Rome]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=The Commentaries of Pope Pius II (1458-1464)|last=Emil|first=O'Brien|publisher=Toronto University Press|year=2015|pages=166}}</ref> According to the family legend, the silver Italian wolf on black background refers to the Roman origin of the family and is the mythical she-wolf [[Lupa Capitolina|Lupa Capitolina Romana]] who would have protected the founder of the dynasty Furio Camillo by devouring his enemies.[[File:Jacopino del conte, ritratto di bindo altoviti.jpg|thumb|Portrait of Bindo Altoviti by Iacopino del Conte]] |
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The genealogist Luigi Passerini Orsini believed the Altoviti were of [[Lombards|Lombard]] heritage, descending from Tebalduolo Longobardo, baron and trusted advisor of king [[Alboin]]. The family came to Florence in the twelfth century. They engaged in the usual mix of culture, commerce (mainly wool and salt), banking and politics. Many were respected judges and diplomats in royal and papal courts. They belonged to the pro-papal elite of the [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Guelph faction]]. With an old military tradition, not a few members of the family were considered supremely valiant captains in numerous decisive battles of the [[Republic of Florence|Florentine Republic]]. Therefore, some scholars believe the [[Wolves in heraldry|heraldic wolf]] was granted by [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Frederick II]] as an award for brave captains.<ref name=":1">Archivio della famiglia Altoviti</ref> |
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== Art & Culture == |
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In 1300 Rinaldo Altoviti was chosen, together with Iacopo Alberti and [[Dante Alighieri]], as chief of the Priors, at the time possessed the supreme authority in the state. He was sent with [[Dante Alighieri|Dante]] as ambassador to [[Pope Boniface VIII|Boniface VIII]] to negotiate a truce between the rival Guelph factions. Years later the family became together with the [[Salviati family|Salviati]], [[Gucci]], [[Pucci family|Pucci]], and [[Bardi family|Bardi]] strong supporters of the war against [[Pope Gregory XI]], which contributed to the end of the [[Avignon Papacy]], while Bardo Altoviti was one of the [[War of the Eight Saints|Eight Saints]]. |
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In 1432 Oddo Altoviti married Giovanna Gherardini and was named in the same year [[Gonfaloniere of Justice]]. He becomes an ally of Tommaso Soderini and, together with [[Luca Pitti]], they use their influence to lift the ban of [[Cosimo de' Medici|Cosimo de Medici the Elder]]. They established personal relationships and profitable links with the Papal [[Curia (Catholic Church)|Curia]].[[File:Madonna dell’Impannata, by Raphael.jpg|thumb|Madonna dell'Impannata by Raphael]] |
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Antonio Altoviti married his cousin Dianora Altoviti Cybo. Known as ''La Papessa'' on account of the influence she held over her uncle [[Pope Innocent VIII|Giambattista Cybo, Pope Innocent VIII]], Antonio was made papal Master of the Mint. Like other Florentines banking families who provided loans to the popes in exchange for the rights to papal revenues, the Florentine and Roman branch of the Altoviti prospected. The family supported the construction of the church of [[San Giovanni dei Fiorentini]] and was a driving force behind the Compagnia della Misericordia. Some of the most famous members were [[Michelangelo]] and [[Leonardo da Vinci]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Polverini Fosi|first=Irene|title=Pietà, devozione e politica: due confraternite fiorentine nella Roma del Rinascimento|year=1991|location=Archivio Storico Italiano|pages=158}}</ref> |
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As the Altoviti had blood ties with Cybo and Medici, and alliances with the della Rovere, Pope Julius II (Giuliano della Rovere) became a mentor to his son Bindo, as he was to his later papal successors Leo X (Giovanni de' Medici) and Clemente VII (Giulio de' Medici). Bindo was included among the young noblemen educated at the papal court, where he was in attendance on the hostage [[Federico II Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua|Federico Gonzaga]], the son of [[Isabella d'Este|Isabella d’Este]] and future [[duke of Mantua]]. During those years, he was introduced to [[Donato Bramante|Bramante]], [[Raphael]], and [[Michelangelo]]. [[File:Giorgio vasari, immacolata concezione (pala altoviti), 1540-41 (firenze, s. apostoli) 00.jpg|thumb|Allegory of the Immaculate Conception by Vasari]]Bindo was appointed as Depository General, the leading banker of the [[Papal States]] and chief commissioner for collecting taxes, mainly allocated for the reconstruction of the [[St. Peter's Basilica]]. After the death of [[Agostino Chigi]] and the [[Sack of Rome (1527)|sack of Rome in 1527]], only a few wealthy banks had the capital to prevent economic chaos. Competing with fierce Genoese bankers and the Germans [[Fugger]] and [[Welser]]; the [[Strozzi family|Strozzi]], [[Salviati family|Salviati]] and Altoviti became the leading Florentine and curial bankers, given the chance to participate in massive credit transactions, controlling an enlarging sphere of papal finance.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Fuggers|last=Ehrenberg|first=Richard|publisher=Gustav Fischer|year=192|pages=274.}}</ref> Bindo's son Giovanni Battista Altoviti married Clarice Ridolfi, daughter of Lorenzo Ridolfi, grandson of [[Lorenzo de' Medici|Lorenzo ''il Magnifico'' di Medici]] and [[Clarice Orsini]], tighten the bond between the Altoviti and the houses of Medici and Strozzi. |
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Bindo Altoviti gradually expanded and diversified his financial activities, established dependences of the Altoviti Bank in foreign money markets as France, Netherlands and England. Among his clients were duke [[Charles III, Duke of Savoy|Charles III of Savoy]] and king [[Henry II of France]] and by shrewd political and financial acumen he amassed one of the largest private fortunes in Italy. After the death of [[Pope Clement VII|Clement VII]] and duke [[Alessandro de' Medici, Duke of Florence|Alessandro de Medici]], the Altoviti sided with [[Catherine de' Medici]] and [[Pope Paul III]], getting into an open confrontation with [[Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany|Cosimo I de' Medici]]. |
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One of his nieces became daughter of honor of [[Catherine de' Medici]], and before her marriage the mistress of the [[Counts and dukes of Anjou|Duke of Anjou]] and future king [[Henry III of France|Henri III of France]]. Another was one of the richest inhabitants of Marseille and mistress of [[Charles, Duke of Guise|Charles of Lorraine]], [[Duke of Guise]], governor of Provence. Her brother became the governor of Belle Ile and his godfather was [[Philippe Emmanuel, Duke of Mercœur|Philippe Emmanuel of Lorraine]], [[Duke of Mercœur]], brother of the later Queen of France [[Louise of Lorraine]] consolidating the relationship with the royal court of France. |
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Bindo enjoyed the financial resources to undertake extensive renovations to the properties he inherited from his father and his suburban villa on the Tiber to indulge a growing passion for art. Known and endowed with a strong taste for art, he became a patron of the arts and friend to [[Giorgio Vasari|Vasari]], [[Benvenuto Cellini|Cellini]], [[Raphael]] and [[Michelangelo]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=de Tolnay|first=Charles|title=Michelangelo|publisher=Princeton University Press|year=1969|pages=131.}}</ref> |
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Vasari frescoed the Triumph of Ceres in the main hall of the Villa Altoviti now shown in the [[Palazzo Venezia|National Museum of Palazzo Venezia]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Rubin|first=Patricia Lee|title=Giorgio Vasari: Art and History|publisher=Yale University|year=1995|pages=11,14,117}}</ref> For Bindo's suburban villa he also frescoed a vast loggia called the Vineyard decorated with statues and burial marbles from emperor [[Hadrian|Hadrian's]] [[Hadrian's Villa|Villa Adriana]] as he had bought most of the estate.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Rendina|first=Claudio|title=La grande enciclopedia di Roma|publisher=Newton & Compton|pages=62}}</ref> [[Andrea Sansovino]] also gave Bindo as a gift a terra-cotta model of the statue of St. Giovanni he sculptured for the [[Florence Cathedral|Duomo in Florence]].[[File:Benvenuto Cellini Bust of Bindo Altoviti.jpg|thumb|Bust of Bindo Altoviti by Cellini]]Immortalized by Raphael and Cellini, also harbored Michelangelo when he fled from Florence to Rome.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Renaissance Rivals: Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael, Titian|last=Goffen|first=Rona|publisher=Yale University Press|year=2002|pages=191}}</ref> Michelangelo had such a high esteem for him (while he despised his rival [[Agostino Chigi]]) that he gave him as a gift the cartoon of Noah's Blessing, used in the vault of the [[Sistine Chapel]] (lost) as well as a design of a Venus (lost) colored then by [[Giorgio Vasari|Vasari]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Vita di Michelangelo|last=Vasari|first=Giorgio|publisher=Edizioni Studio Tesi|year=1993|pages=118.}}</ref> |
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In Florence on Piazza del Limbo they had a palazzo with a large family coat of arms on the facade and detained the patronage of the church [[Santi Apostoli, Florence|Santi Apostoli]]. It was also Michelangelo who convinced Bindo, not to rebuild, but to preserve the church. Vasari painted the Allegory of the Immaculate Conception for the family chapel.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Giusti|first=Anna Maria|title=Pierre Dure, The Art of Semiprecious Stonework|publisher=Thames & Hudson|year=2006|pages=28}}</ref> Bindo was buried in the church of [[Trinità dei Monti|Santa Trinità dei Monte]] in Rome and [[Giovanni Battista Naldini]] was commissioned to paint the cycle of frescoes concerning St Giovanni the Baptist in the family. |
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In the late 16th century, Giovanni Battista Sacchetti, a trading partner of the [[Barberini family]] of [[Pope Urban VIII]] and married Francesca Altoviti. The marriage had the effect of transferring to the Sacchetti financial resources, property including some of the collection of the Altoviti and profitable links with the curia and client relations already established by the Altoviti.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Marriage in Italy, 1300-1650|last=Trevor Dean|first=& K.J.P Lowe|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=1998|pages=209}}</ref> Their son [[Giulio Cesare Sacchetti]] was an influential cardinal, supporter of Galileo Galilei and twice included in the French Court's list of acceptable candidates ([[Papal conclave, 1644|papal conclave of 1644]] and [[Papal conclave, 1655|papal conclave of 1655]]) for the papacy. Their other son Marcello Sacchetti became papal treasurer to Urban VIII and his art agent. He continued to expand the family collection and became one of the most respected collectors of the Baroque and patron of [[Nicolas Poussin]], [[Guido Reni]] and [[Pietro da Cortona]]. The family collection had over 800 paintings and later became the foundation for the [[Capitoline Museums|Capitoline Museum]] in Rome.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Ave Papa/Ave Papabile: The Sacchetti Family, Their Art Patronage, and Political Aspirations|last=Zirpolo|first=Lilian H.|publisher=CRRS Publications University of Toronto|year=2005|pages=116}}</ref>[[File:Ieri, Oggi, Domani.jpg|thumb]]Pope Clement XII had blood ties with the Altoviti and presided over the growth of a surplus in the papal finances. He thus became known for building the new façade of the [[Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano]], beginning construction of the [[Trevi Fountain]], and the purchase of Cardinal [[Alessandro Albani]]'s collection of antiquities for the papal gallery. In his 1738 bull ''[[In eminenti apostolatus]]'', he provides the first public papal condemnation of [[Freemasonry]]. |
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The Altoviti also had a palazzo called ''dei Viscacci'' with portraits of famous Florentine people such as [[Amerigo Vespucci]], [[Francesco Guicciardini]] and [[Dante Alighieri|Dante]] carved in the facade, and the halls frescoed by [[Lorenzo del Moro]] and [[Tommaso Redi (painter)|Tommaso Redi]]. Ironically the palazzo became later home to the Florentine masonic lodge of the [[Grand Orient of Italy|Grande Oriente d’Italia]]. |
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In the 18th century, Giovambattista Altoviti was able to expand his collection as he inherited at the request of his friend Pietro Paolo Avila, his palazzo in Rome together with his prestigious art collection and the name Avila was joined to the name Altoviti. When in the 19th century parts of the collection were sold, the portrait of Bindo Altoviti was sold to [[Ludwig I of Bavaria]] and the statues of the [[Hadrian's Villa|Villa Adriana]] to the [[Borghese family|Borghese]]. |
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In the mid 19th century, descendants of the Altoviti married to [[Radziwiłł family]], magnates of Poland and Lithuania, instituting a closer relationship to the Imperial Court of Prussia, cultivating relationships with [[Frédéric Chopin]], [[Vincenzo Bellini]], [[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe]] and [[Theodor Fontane]]. [[Stanisław Albrecht Radziwiłł|Prince Stanisław Albrecht Radziwiłł]] was one of the organisers of the [[Sikorski Historical Institute]] in [[London]]. He was married to Caroline Lee Radziwill, sister of the late First Lady, [[Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis]], and sister-in-law of [[John F. Kennedy|President John F. Kennedy]]. |
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In the early 20th century, other members of the family cultivated relationships with [[Paul Klee]], and married a relative of [[Katia Mann|Katja Mann]] and [[Thomas Mann]], involved in the [[Saturn (rocket family)|Saturn]] and [[Apollo program|Apollo]] space program. |
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Later, marquis Antonio Altoviti Avila, married Maria Badoglio, daughter of [[Marshal of Italy|Marshall of Italy]] [[Pietro Badoglio]], [[Duke of Addis Abeba]], Italian Ambassador to Brazil and first post-fascist [[Prime Minister of Italy]]. He become involved in the production of Academy-winning movie [[Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow]]. |
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In recent years, another family member worked as agent with Grammy Award-winning artists like [[Eumir Deodato]] and [[Questlove|Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson]]. |
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