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What does our intriguing portrait of Eleonora di Toledo reveal about this extraordinary woman? After arriving in Florence in 1539 as the 17-year-old bride of Duke Cosimo de’Medici, how did she succeed in following the demands of court etiquette while maintaining her own personal style?

Join Dr Elizabeth Currie to discover how, in the following two decades after her arrival, Eleonora helped shape the identity and international standing of the Florentine court. Through surviving letters and documents, Dr Currie will discuss her exacting taste and her involvement in commissioning clothing for herself, family relatives, and members of her entourage.

About the speakers

Dr Elizabeth Currie is a dress historian specialising in the Italian Renaissance period. She teaches at Central Saint Martins and lectures internationally at events and conferences on Renaissance art and fashion. She has published widely in academic journals and exhibition catalogues. Her books include Fashion and Masculinity in Renaissance Florence (2016) and the edited volume A Cultural History of Dress and Fashion in the Renaissance (2017). She is currently completing a publication on everyday dress in Italian Baroque art.

Take part at the Museum: No ticket required, drop in on the day. Join us in the Theatre for this special talk.

Watch Online: This talk will also be broadcast live from the museum. Book a free ticket online to receive a Zoom link. Ticketholders will also receive a link to view a recording of the talk, which will be available for two weeks only.