The Madness Of The Pazzi - Berlin, at the Bode-Museum, the Florentine Renaissance between violence and art

The bloody episode is brought back to life through documents, medals, busts, and paintings

Running until September 20, 2026, the Bode-Museum am Kupfergraben in Berlin presents “The Pazzi Conspiracy: Power, Violence, and Art in Renaissance Florence”. This exceptional exhibition, organized by the State Museums of the German capital in collaboration with the Münzkabinett, the Skulpturensammlung, and the Gemäldegalerie, resurrects one of the most dramatic events in Italian Renaissance history for contemporary audiences. Through coeval documents, commemorative medals, busts, and famous paintings, the exhibition successfully restores faces and actions to its main protagonists. The result is an exhibition fresco of great emotional impact that catapults visitors into the raw immediacy of 15th-century true crime.April 26, 1478: Alongside the Archbishop of Pisa, Francesco Salviati, and the condottiero Giovan Battista Montesecco, Jacopo and Francesco de’ Pazzi - bitter rivals of the Medici family led by brothers Lorenzo and Giuliano - became the active masterminds behind a conspiracy to eliminate them once and for all and seize control of the city. After an unexpected turn of events ruined an attempt the previous day, they opted for something truly nefarious: a full-blown ambush during Holy Mass.

The attack against the Medici took place during Mass at Santa Maria del Fiore

The service was being officiated in the Florentine cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore by the newly appointed 18th-yearold Cardinal Raffaele Riario, nephew of Pope Sixtus IV and perhaps unaware of the plot. Meanwhile, a contingent of papal and ducal forces, coordinated by Federico da Montefeltro, amassed at the city gates, ready to support the conspirators once their goal was achieved. But things did not go as planned. The priority was to eliminate both brothers together, all at once. At a prearranged signal during the solemn moment of the elevation, Giuliano - kneeling like everyone else - was repeatedly and mortally stabbed in the back by Bernardo Bandini. Bandini, along with others, then lunged at the future Magnifico. Lorenzo dodged the blows as best he could, thanks to the intervention of Poliziano - the famous poet - and the decisive action of his friend Francesco Nori, who sacrificed his own life in Lorenzo’s place, allowing him to escape. Despite months of preparation, and though bathed in blood, the conspiracy ultimately failed. With their supporting army retreating, Jacopo de’ Pazzi made a desperate last stand, presenting himself to the crowd and shouting that Florence was finally free. Unfortunately for him, news of the brutal assassination attempt had already spread through the winding streets of the medieval city. Revolted by such cruelty, the populace rose up against the rebels instead. A furious manhunt ensued, which Lorenzo himself did nothing to stop. Within two days, most of the conspirators were sent to the public gallows. Bandini, however, was still missing, having fled post-haste toward Constantinople. Extradited back to Florence just a year later, he would meet the exact same fate.