In the Via dei Servi, leading from Brunelleschi’s Duomo to the more
modest but equally impressive Piazza Santissima Annunziata, appears the
monumental edifice that once belonged to the prosperous Niccolini family. Palazzo
Niccolini housed the sumptuous art collection of one of the family’s foremost
art patrons: Giovanni Niccolini (1544-1611). He was the son of Agnolo Niccolini
(1502-1567), a successful ambassador of Cosimo I de’ Medici. In the last years
of his life, Agnolo even reached the status of cardinal. Giovanni followed in his
father’s footsteps as loyal servant of the Medici court. In 1570, Niccolini
became part of grand duke Cosimo’s entourage when the latter received the Grand
Ducal crown and from 1578 until 1610, Giovanni resided in Rome as Florentine
ambassador to the Papal court. His Roman sojourn influenced Niccolini’s art
patronage, since he acquired many antiquities to adorn his Florentine palace. Over
time, this splendorous collection became dispersed and it is now lost without
any trace. Fortunately, the Cappella Niccolini remains intact and gives an idea
of Niccolini’s rich art patronage. Giovanantonio Dosio (1533-1610) designed the
family chapel in the Franciscan church of Santa Croce and decorated the walls
with many coloured marble slabs of archaeological provenance, acquired on the
Roman art market.
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