Definition

Proper noun: * Lorenzo de' Medici, a historical figure: "Lorenzo the Magnificent" is the common English epithet for Lorenzo de' Medici, a ruler of the Florentine Republic during the Italian Renaissance. He was a statesman, diplomat, patron of arts and letters, and scholar.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The court of Lorenzo the Magnificent was a center for philosophers, poets, and artists.
  • Many masterpieces from the Renaissance were created under the patronage of Lorenzo the Magnificent.
  • Historians study Lorenzo the Magnificent to understand Renaissance politics and culture.

Advanced Usage

• As a symbol of patronage: The name is often used metonymically to represent ideal artistic and intellectual patronage.
  • The foundation sought to be a modern Lorenzo the Magnificent for digital artists.

Variants and Related Words

• Lorenzo de' Medici (n): The full name of the historical figure.
• Il Magnifico (n): The original Italian epithet.
• Medici (n): The powerful Florentine banking family to which he belonged.

Synonyms

• Lorenzo de' Medici
• Il Magnifico
• The Magnificent (when context is clear)

Related Phrases

• Age of Lorenzo the Magnificent: A phrase referring to the peak of the Florentine Renaissance during his rule.
  • The sculpture dates from the Age of Lorenzo the Magnificent.

Noun

1. Italian statesman and scholar who supported many artists and humanists including Michelangelo and Leonardo and Botticelli (1449-1492)