MEDICI, Leopold de (1617-1675). Cardinal; son of Cosimo II.
Letter Signed to Messrs Verrazzano and Serzelli, his agents, 1 page folio with endorsed second leaf, Florence, 18 April 1673. The docket on the verso reads: 'Firenze 1673 del Sr Card[ina]le dei Medici de 18 Ap[ri]l[e] R[icevu]ta 8 Maggio Risp[osta] 19 [Maggio]'.
expressing pleasure at the news that a consignment of 400 onze [the uncia was a Sicilian coin] was being packed up and would probably be followed by another of 300 onze, and approving of their having made gifts of 10 scudi and other small sums ('speserelle'), which he considers have been put to good use; he also suggests that it would be politic to disburse significant sums to His Excellency's ministers, and notes with pleasure that the Viceroy seems to be sympathetic to his interests, concluding with a discussion of the arrangements and paperwork for any payment requiredLeopold de' Medici, brother of Grand Duke Ferdinand II, took a particular interest in science and founded the Accademia del Cimento in 1657 to promote the Galilean method of scientific observation. His scientific treasures included Galileo's telescopes. He was also an avid collector in other fields, including books, paintings and drawings, statuary and coins; his collections are now in the Uffizi and other Florentine museums.This letter almost certainly relates to coin acquisitions for the Cardinal's collections, a field where greasing of the right palms was indispensable. Verrazzano is presumably a descendant of the explorer.
[No: 25086]