- Palla Strozzi
Palla di Onorio Strozzi (
1372 -May 8 ,1462 ) was an Italian banker, politician, writer, philosopher and philologist.Biography
He was born in
Florence into the rich family of theStrozzi . He was educated by humanists, learning Greek and Latin, and establishing an important collection of rare books.In his sixties, together with
Rinaldo degli Albizzi , he became the leader of the opposition againstCosimo de' Medici , the man who practically controlled the political power in Florence. Initially successful, the two secured the imprisonment of Cosimo, forcing him into exile in 1433.However, when Cosimo returned, both the Strozzi and Albizi families were exiled in turn. In 1434, Palla moved to
Padua , where he started to plan a return to his native city, which however never occurred.He died in 1462, leaving his collection to the monastery of Santa Giustina. As patron of the arts, he was commissioner of
Gentile da Fabriano 's "Adoration of the Magi" in the Strozzi Chapel ofSanta Trinita church in Florence. He additionally commissionedFra Angelico 's "Descent from the Cross " in the Sacristy of Santa Trinita in Florence.His descendants settled in
Ferrara .
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