Resumen de The "Botteghe degli Artisti": artistic enterprise at the della Rovere and Medici courts in the late sixteenth century
The Galleria dei Lavori, based at the Uffizi, and established by official decree in 1588 by Grand Duke Ferdinando I de' Medici, comprised a wide range of artists' and artisans' workshops. Francesco Maria II della Rovere, duke of Pesaro and Urbino, had already established a similar series of "botteghini" in the early 1580s within the ducal palace in Pesaro. At both courts there was ample correspondence between the dukes (or their secretaries) and their agents in Rome, Florence, Venice and Prague, indicating very active recruitment of skilled artists and artisans. From extensive documentary evidence it is clear that the main output of these "botteghe" focused on artefacts for the new gallery extension of the Pesaro Palace, the Medici galleries and political or family gifts. Materials were bought communally for several workshops and/or tailored to specific assignments. Collaboratin between disciplines was one of the main characteristics, resulting in a synergy of skills. This contribution discusses the organization and function of these enterprises and the influence of their configuration on the production process.
