Madonna del Magnificat

[Piero de Medici]

From right to left, there was a magnificent abundance of color , the rich , warm colors bringing life to each detail of the whole artwork that had a biblical signification. Full of joy, adoration and love, five graceful angels gathered around the Virgin Mary and her child, Christ, before the sunrise. Behind them, the skies of morning were turning lighter over the Tuscan valley.

Piero gazed at the painting while walking along the large room in his palazzo, his eyes fixed on a spot. One of the angels was holding an ink pot in his hand , his eyes staring at the baby's face. The dark curly haired man frowned a bit, shaking his head . Something was embarrassing him but he couldn't speak the words loudly.

Suddenly, the nobleman heard a knock on his door. A young servant boy entered and announced his master that Lucrezia de Medici, his older sister, has arrived and was willing to visit her brother. With a simple gesture, Piero ordered the servant to let the woman enter. Walking to the opened window and looking down over the city of Florence, Piero sighed deeply. Their father has died a few days ago and the large painting of the wall reminded him of the old times when Lorenzo used to bring his artists and writers at their palazzo. Ceremonies and feasts were a main part of de Medici's life and the whole Florence was blossoming and joyful under Lorenzo. Now, that his father died, Piero had not just a horrible feeling of emptiness and sorrow, but he also had a weird feeling that, with Lorenzo's death the sun has set over Florence.

Raising his hand and pinching the bridge of his nose, Piero thought of the nightmare he had last night . Before that night, the young man used to ignore the nightmares , but now , without his father, he felt again like a helpless child. The last time he felt horrible after a nightmare was when he was just seven years old. But then, he ran into his father's dormitory and hugged him, begging him to tell him a story about knights. But then, Lorenzo was not there anymore. Piero had to face his nightmares alone. The little boy grew up.

Piero straightened his clothes and made a few steps towards the door, waiting for his sister to enter, listening to the sound of the city that was coming back to a new life. The merchants were opening their stores, the bank officers and tellers were prepared for a new day, ladies and gentlemen were already waiting for them to start the trades.

[Lucrezia de Medici]

The journey from her and her husband's manor to her family home, now her brothers, was not a long journey but it was a tiring one. She had made the short journey just a few short days ago, for her father's funeral. It had been the first time in many years since her entire family had been together and, while she wished the ocassion could have been a happier one, seeing her siblings had lessened the dull aching pain her father's passing had left her with. Jacopo, her dear husband of the last six years, hadn't liked the idea of her travelling but, due to the circumstances, he had allowed her to go. As if he would have been able to stop her from going to the funeral.

This journey, however, was an entirely different story.

The moment she and her family, which consisted of simply Jacopo and their two year old son, Giovonni, arrived back home, Lucrezia simply had not been the same. Her father's death left a hole in her that not even her husband's kisses or her son's laughter could fill. Even the uplifting feeling mass usually gave her provided no relief. For a few days, she wallowed around the house, locked herself in her room, leaving all the work to the servants, just as she was supposed to anyway, she made a decision. Lucrezia decided to return to ancestral home, to her brother Piero, and she would stay there for as long as she was needed and welcomed. Jacopo did not approve, but he was a wise enough man to know that there was no stopping her. All he asked was that she take a guard for protection, their maid, Antonia, and their son with her. Being in politics made him a very busy man and he simply did not have the time or energy, nor the obligation, to care Giovonni while she was gone.

It had not been a terribly difficult journey and there had been no trouble on the road. In fact, seeing merchants returning brought Lucrezia the first smile in as many days. After the guard helped her down from her horse, Antonia taking care of Giovonni, she took her sons hand in her own and the group made their way inside. The moment she entered, she was stopped by a young servant boy who bowed respectfully once she told him who she was. She ordered him to have her old rooms made up for her along with two others to be made up for her maid and guard. The boy hesitated, unsure if he should obey, but Giovanni's exhausted crying was enough to put him into action. The servant immediately called for another to escort the others to their rooms before leaving to announce her presence to his master. Sighing, Lucrezia placed her hands on her belly and rubbed it affectionately. Already she felt at peace, as if her father was with her, guiding her. She could practically feel him all around her.

"Signora?" Lucrezia's eyes snapped opened and she saw the boy staring at her. "You may enter," he told her. She smiled, silently offering her thanks, before walking past him. When she entered, she saw Piero already standing and waiting for her.

"Little brother," she greeted with a soft smile. Walking closer to him, she curtsied in respect as he was now Gran maestro before hugging him tightly as she could. Her stomach swelled heavily with her second child, the main reason Jacopo didn't want her travelling in the first place. Pulling back, she cupped his face in her hands and observed him for a moment. Frowning, she asked, "You look troubled. Tell me, has something...else happened?" Lucrezia prayed to God that nothing had, for all their sakes.

[Piero de Medici]

As he looked at his sister's face, he could easily realize that she had not had an easy journey at all. She looked tired and this did not surprise him. Their family were passing through a very hard period since their beloved father have died. Lucrezia was older than him and he knew that for women the hard moments were more difficult to handle than for men. They were more fragile, more sensitive...on the other side, he knew that her brother in law was not too happy with the idea of letting Lucrezia leave her home to visit the manor of de Medici, but due to the circumstances he had no other choice.

As he took his eyes from her, he could see her oman servant, Antonia. It was so embarrassing to see the woman standing there, in the same room, as long as he knew that the woman was something like a guard Jacobo wished his wife to take with her. As if de Medici family was not safe for her! This was quite an insult, but Piero was wise enough not to comment anything about the presence of this woman. The marriage was a harder thing that he expected. Once his siblings were married to members of other families, he had to accept the caprices of the other families without saying a word. What a chore! he thought, knowing that he had to take a decision regarding Alfonsina Orsini soon. But when he saw the little Giovanni, his beloved nephew, a bright smile came across de Medici young man's face. He was so happy to see him that he did not hesitate to lower his knees and open his arms, taking him in an embrace. 'Uncle!' The boy said happily and Piero kissed the boy's forehead. It was a joy to see this boy, who looked like a veritable heir of de Medici family.

As his older sister curtseyed with respect, Piero came closer to her and embraced her. Right then, he felt the need to rest his head on her shoulder and mourn their father's death, but he knew that he had to be strong . When he heard her question, he took her fragile hands in his and shook his head lightly. 'There is nothing to worry about, Lucrezia.' He said, but let out a light sigh as he remembered the nightmare. 'I... had a nightmare last night...' He murmured into her ear, not wanting to be heard that the woman servant called Antonia, then watched Giovanni as he walked towards the Botticelli's painting called Madonna of the Magnificat, his little mouth opened in surprise.

Suddenly, he could feel something moving into his sister's belly and looked down at her. 'Are you...with child...again?' He asked in another whisper, not knowing if Lucrezia spoke about it to her servant or even to Jacopo. But, if he knew it, then he had another reason why he would not accept his wife to travel to Florence.

[Lucrezia de Medici]

Lucrezia had never seen her brother in such a state. He looked tired, exhausted really, and so much older than his twenty-one years. Just the sight of him made her sigh deeply and want to take him in her arms. Being a mother had only heightened her maternal instincts. She took note of his eyeing Antonia and knew she would have to placate him, assure him that her presence was not meant to be an insult. Jacopo would never dare insult Piero, not just because he was the new Lord but because he was his wife's favorite sibling. Any slight against her darling baby brother and her husband would find himself lacking. Watching her son and brother reunite erased all thoughts of her husband, however. Grinning, she drank in the sight. It had been far too long since they had seen one another and knew that she had made the right decision in bringing Giovanni with her. His presence was already brightening her brother's mood and she gladly accepted his embrace.

"A nightmare?" she wondered. "You have not had nightmares in many years, have you not? What did you see? You don't have to tell me," she reminded him, "but I will listen, if that is your wish." Lightly caressing his head and gently rubbing his back, Lucrezia remembered their mother doing this quite often when they was a child. Their dear mother's gentle and loving hands always chased away their nightmares. Father even tended to her once, after a particularly garrish nightmare she had. It looked like it was her turn now; Lucrezia was the matriarch of the family, it was her duty to care for each and everyone of her siblings -- husband, society standards and propriety be damned.

Looking over her brother's shoulder, she saw Antonia distracting her son with the Botticelli -- she remembered vividly when father unveiled it to them, her surprise and deep honor to Signor Botticelli for her placement in the painting, as Christ. Lucrezia had never understood why she was the only one of her sibling to be added to the portrait. Yes, she was the eldest, but she was a daughter and sons were held in much higher esteem than daughters. Piero was nine at the time, he should have been honored as well, most certainly above her, and been placed in the portrait. Their father had been a most curious man. Lucrezia was certain she never understood him, despite how close she had been to her father. There had been days where he would stay locked away in his office, and God help any poor soul that dared to seek him out on those days, and then there were days where he was lighthearted and would regale the family with stories from his own childhood. Those kinder days were few and far between, but the eldest sister remembered, quite vividly, that the unveiling of the painting had been one of those days. It was her brother's whispered question in her ear that brought her back to the present, making her chuckle and she pulled away to smile easily at her brother.

"Yes, you shall be an uncle once again. Jacopo did not wish for me to travel in such condition," she confessed, "but he knows well enough by now that he cannot keep me confined to our manor. Antonia is here, should something happen." Face softening, she lightly patted his cheek as if to assure him he need not worry about her. And he didn't; she was here for him, he was her entire focus at the moment and she refused to have him fawn over or berate her for such a trivial thing as travelling whilst with child. "And I could not leave you here to suffer alone. Not with all that has happened." Hands on her stomach, rubbing gently, she smiled wistfully and told him, "I shall name the child after our dear father. Lorenzo, for a boy. Loren, for a girl." While her unborn child kicked, she looked forlornly at her brother and quietly asked, "Do you think he would be pleased? It was always so hard to please him..."

[Piero de Medici]

"You are right, my dear sister, I have not had nightmares in many years. It seems that you know me better than I expected. You have not forgotten...you probably have not forgotten that I one told you about the dream I had a few years ago...about my uncle..." he sighed a bit as he thought of that nightmare. It was weird to know that he had the same nightmare he one had, after his uncle's death... and didn't know if it was well to tell his sister that it was the same dream. He knew that his sister was overprotective like their mother... in a way, it was a bit embarrassing because they could be easily hurt but on the other side he thought it was sweet to think that whenever he felt sad he could rest his head on his sister's shoulder, even if he didn't use to do it.

Piero invited his sister to take a seat on one of the chairs and feel comfortable. Even if she was married, this palazzo was still her home. After he listened to her explanation about her husband and the woman servant then told him about her intention to name her and Jacopo's child after their father, Piero nodded lightly. "Of course father would be pleased. He always wanted the children in our family to be named after us, not ofter the others... he loved his family but became strict and sad after uncle's death. I remember that, before he died, he often said that if he died he would go after his brother." It was hard enough for Piero to speak about his father but, somehow, it made him feel less pain. He was sure that, wherever he was, his father had to be at peace, for he had been loved by his florentines and his family. He had been a good man and people even had called him Lorenzo the Magnificent.

With a gesture, he made the woman servant sign to leave. She was visibly not too happy with the young merchant's decision, but curtseyed, went close to the boy and extended her hand. 'No!' The young boy said , clinging to his mother's skirts. 'I won't leave this room. I want to stay with mama and uncle Piero.' As he heard these words, Piero could not help but smile. De Medici blood was flowing in the boy's veins. A spoiled boy, like Piero de Medici has been when he was a child...the servant had no other choice but turn on her heels and leave the room alone...right then, Piero looked down at his nephew and winked at him.

"I bring you some good news, though Guess what, sister. Our brother Giovanni has returned from Rome's Sacred College. He wants to be named Cardinal of Florence" Piero said thinking of his younger brother.

But his smile vanished soon, because the boy went to the painting and , as he looked at it, he asked... 'Who is the baby?' Piero took a deep breath, making an effort to smile down at his nephew, while his mind wandered back to that day when Sandro Botticelli had decided to paint Lucrezia as Christ instead of himself...then, what intrigued him the most was the fact that, three years after his uncle's death, his father had ordered the painter to paint him and his brother as two young boys around his daughter... Piero had been nine and cried a lot, deeply disappointed by Botticelli and his father's decision to paint Lucrezia, who had been two years older than him and a girl... 'the baby is our Lord Jesus Christ.' Piero said shortly looking up at the painting, his eyes being fixed on his uncle though.