The Medici family skilfully established themselves as the unofficial rulers of republican Florence during the Renaissance and went on to become Grand Dukes of Tuscany in the 16th century.

The lecture explores the development of the family and the economic, political and artistic influences which enabled them to sustain their rule over the city until the early 18th century.

The following aspects are covered:

• The development of the Medici bank in the early 15th century
• The main political events of the 15th and 16th centuries - the exile of Cosimo, the Pazzi conspiracy, the exile of Piero, the election of Leo X and Clement VII and the Sack of Rome
• Family alliances, infiltration into the church and the French royal family
• The main artistic commissions, including San Lorenzo, the Medici palace and San Marco
• The urban residences and rural retreats

After graduating in Art History from Cambridge University in 1993, James qualified as an accountant and spent over 7 years working in investment banking in the City of London. James, however, has always been passionate about Italian art and culture and has travelled extensively throughout Italy. He began learning Italian at the Italian Cultural Institute in London in 2003 and also completed courses in Rome, Venice and Florence.

After leaving investment banking in 2005, James decided to devote himself to what he loved most: the Italian visual arts, language and culture. He spent a year living in Rome, working as a language teacher and freelance tour guide, and gained a real insider's view of Italian life.

As well as managing White Hat Tours (which he founded in 2005), James also works as a freelance lecturer, giving talks on a variety of subjects relating to the Italian visual arts.

websites: