18 November 2026–21 March 2027
Free Display
Housekeeper’s Room

Discover Cosimo I de' Medici's world of art and power in our upcoming free display.

Cosimo I de' Medici (1519-1574) rose from Duke of Florence to become the first Grand Duke of Tuscany, one of the most powerful rulers of Renaissance Italy. From a monumental wine cooler bearing his personal emblem to a ceremonial sword linking him to the mythical hero Hercules, the objects on display reveal how he built and sustained that power.

This free display draws on the museum's collection to show how Cosimo used art to strengthen his authority, impress his court, and secure his family's legacy.

For the display, the Wallace Collection's Portrait of Eleonora of Toledo has been newly conserved. Eleonora of Toledo (1522-1562) married Cosimo in 1539 and played an active role in government, as well as shaping the fashions and cultures of the Florentine court.

The painting comes from the workshop of Agnolo Bronzino, Eleonora's favourite artist. Removing a heavily yellowed varnish and addressing earlier structural repairs has revealed fresh, vivid colours remarkably close to the original work it was based on; the celebrated portrait of Eleonora and her son Giovanni in the Uffizi Galleries.

Portrait of Eleonora of Toledo was conserved thanks to the generous support of Jan and Peter Winslow CBE.