Lorenzo De’ Medici and Clarice Orsini’s wedding:
The marriage with Clarice, who belonged to Papal court nobility, was set up thanks to the aid of Giovanni Tornabuoni, Lucrezia’s brother, the head of the Medici bank in Rome. For the occasion, Lucrezia went to the papal city to meet and get to know the bride and then give her consent. From there, she sent her impressions to Piero, stuck in Florence by disease: the girl had a round, pale face and reddish hair; she looked sweet but “not as gentle as our daughters”; her hips seemed narrow and her chest of “good quality” though as per the Roman fashion her clothing was too high-necked to see it properly. Lorenzo then followed his mother to meet the bride and sign the marriage contract.
Clarice arrived in Florence on horseback accompanied by Giuliano, Lorenzo’s brother, with a retinue of fifty horsemen. There, she was welcomed by a large crowd on the streets and squares of Florence and many guests in Palazzo Medici, who decorated the windows with olive branches as a sign of joy.
The wedding was celebrated in San Lorenzo. For the festivities no expense was spared. For the five banquets, which took place for three days in a row, 150 calves, 4,000 capons and many casks of both Tuscan and foreign wine had been brought in. In those days 17 tons of candy and sweets were consumed.
In the garden a comedy was performed and a battle was staged on the road. Floats with drapes and flowers paraded the streets.
(Source: borgia.forumfree.it, via thehouseofborgia)
