Talk in English: ‘From Florence to Persia, Medici Diplomacy in the East’

“From Florence to Persia: Medici Diplomacy in the East,” is the subject of a talk in English given by Dr. Alexandria Brown-Hejazi at CEA CAPA on via Pandolfini 20 on November 16 at 6 pm.  Refreshments will follow. RSVP to greverdito@ceacapa.com.

In 1500, it took nearly two years to travel by land and sea from Florence to Isfahan, the capital of the Persian Empire. Despite the long and dangerous journey, dozens of ambassadors traveled from Florence to Persia to establish a diplomatic bond between the Medici and the Safavid Persian state. Why did such an alliance emerge? What role did art play in Florentine-Persian diplomacy? This lecture will explore the deep admiration and fascination of the Medici for Persia, looking at intersections between art, literature, science, and poetry. Brown-Hejazi will look at the visual trace left behind by this largely unstudied Persian-Medici bond that can still be seen in Florence today. 

With a Ph.D. in Art History from Stanford University, and an M.A. from Harvard University, Dr. Alexandria Brown-Hejazi has specialized in early modern art and architecture of the Mediterranean basin and eastern Islamic world, with a particular focus on Italy and Iran. On top of teaching Art History in Florence, where she is also an Associate Scholar at the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz, she has curated important exhibitions on the theme of cross-cultural early modern exchange, on Persian art and Islamic mapping practices.