PURCHASE TICKETS

WEDNESDAYS | MAY 6 – 20 | 11 AM – 12 PM
NORMA KERSHAW AUDITORIUM | 3-PART LECTURE SERIES

Presented by Dr. Lisa Boutin Vitela, Professor of Art History, Cerritos College

Bankers turned powerbrokers, the Medici family shaped the art, politics, and culture of Renaissance Florence—and much of Europe. This three-part series traces their rise from influential financiers to grand dukes of Tuscany, exploring how their ambition and patronage fueled masterpieces by artists such as Donatello, Botticelli, Michelangelo, and more. Along the way, we uncover a story of political intrigue, artistic innovation, and a cultural legacy that still defines Florence today.

May 6 | The Rise of the Medici in Art and Florentine Power

How did one family come to dominate Florence? This lecture explores the early Medici as bankers, political strategists, and visionary art patrons. Meet Cosimo de’ Medici and his grandson Lorenzo the Magnificent, and discover how artists like Donatello, Fra Angelico, and Botticelli helped establish the Medici as cultural tastemakers and de facto rulers of the city.

May 13 | The Ambitious Medici in Florence and Beyond

As their influence spread across Europe, members of the Medici family rose to the papacy and forged powerful alliances. This lecture examines how their political ambition shaped the careers of Michelangelo, Raphael, and Leonardo da Vinci, against a backdrop of conspiracy, assassination, and exile.

May 20 | Medici Grand Dukes and Custodians of Culture

In the sixteenth century, a new Medici line became grand dukes of Tuscany and transformed Florence into the city we recognize today. Explore striking works by Pontormo, Bronzino, Allori, Giambologna, and Bandinelli, and learn how Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici secured the family’s artistic treasures for the public—ensuring Florence’s enduring status as a world capital of art.

Individual Tickets: Members $11 | General $16 

Questions? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 714.567.3677. Proceeds benefit Bowers Museum Education Programs. Tickets are non-refundable.

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons; public domain