Routledge - The Politics of Water in Medici Florence Book

Explore the complex relationship between the Medici dynasty and the management of water through this interdisciplinary study. Published by Routledge as part of the European Festival Studies series, this book examines how Cosimo I and his successors, Francesco I and Ferdinando I de' Medici, used water to shape their political image. Through a detailed look at art and festivals, the text traces the family's efforts to control water flow and its representation. From the Neptune Fountain to Naumachia, the author uses visual and documentary evidence to show how the Medici harnessed the imagery of Neptune to negotiate their standing in a volatile European political landscape. This work provides a deep look at how the control of waterways and maritime frontiers served as a tool for power and competition against foreign rivals.