The Veduta of Bratislava in Florence A Hidden Story

The subject of “The Veduta of Bratislava in Florence. A hidden story” is a fresco depicting a veduta (i. e. a panoramic view) of Bratislava, painted in Florence, Italy.

The artwork is one of the very few known historical depictions of Bratislava found outside Slovakia, and also one of its oldest surviving panoramic views. As a part of an entire fresco cycle of various towns of the Habsburg Monarchy, it was commissioned to celebrate the 1565 marriage of Francesco de’ Medici and Joanna, Archduchess of Austria, a prominent member of the House of Habsburg and sister of Emperor Maximilian II, the first of the Hungarian monarchs crowned in Bratislava. Together with pictures of other cities, the veduta of Bratislava (for an unaware viewer enigmatically inscribed in Latin as “Possonia”) decorates the walls of the first inner courtyard (known as the Michelozzo Courtyard) of the Palazzo Vecchio, the Town Hall of Florence. The book unveils the historical context of the artwork’s origins, explains why a picture of Bratislava was painted in such a distant high-profile location, explores the sources and creation of the painting, and gives details of its presentation to Joanna of Austria and the wedding guests. One of the most interesting parts of the book is the chapter comparing the scenes and landmarks seen in the fresco with its source – a printed leaflet depicting the 1563 coronation of Maximilian II in Bratislava. Other reference materials such as the earliest surviving photos of the artwork help to assess the progress of its weathering and deterioration over the last decades. The book also portrays the landmarks of Bratislava in the 16th century – although many have been lost since then, their remains have been thoroughly examined during archaeological excavations, for which the 1565 fresco and the 1563 coronation leaflet provide unique topographical reference documenting the town’s layout centuries ago. The preparation of the book coincided with the fresco restoration project in 2014-2015, which turned out to be a unique opportunity to enrich our publication with a first-hand account of the restoration works carried out by Italian specialists, written by Cristiana Conti, a member of the restoration team. Our book is an exquisite iconographic source for both professionals and enthusiasts interested in the history of the capital of Slovakia, its topography and its monuments. With lavish photographs and illustrations, it will take you on a journey to Florence and help you unveil the secrets of the veduta of Bratislava.