Cauliflower of Canon Venuti and Radish from the of the estate of Marquis Corsi
Oil on canvas, 88 x 118, Bartolomeo Bimbi, 1706
Museo di Storia Naturale, Villa Medicea di Poggio a Caiano, Prato, Tuscany

Cavolfiore del canonico Venuti e ramolaccio del podere del marchese Corsi is another painting from the series commissioned by Grand Duke Cosimo III de' Medici. The Grand Duke tasked Bartolomeo Bimbi with depicting various plants from his extensive botanical collection. The cartouche in the bottom left corner of the painting reads: 'The famous radish was produced on an estate of il signore Marchese Corsi at Fonte all’Erta, brought to H.R.H. by Pier Antonio Micheli, botanist of the same H.R.H., and weighed eight pounds and one ounce.'  Bimbi carefully described both the subject, with precise measurements and characteristics, and its provenance. Almost all of the fruit and vegetables portrayed in the paintings of this series by Bimbi from the Florentine countryside, from properties of the Grand Duke's subjects, or from monastery gardens .






 

 

 

 





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