Research Brief

Laurentian Library - Florence

I would like to research the Medici library in Florence, Italy as my research topic.  

The main areas that I would like to cover include the incredible history of the library &

the context of its building in the period of time. (Michelangelo was commissioned by 

the Medici Pope Clement VII to build the library in 1523 & construction started in 

1525, however Michelangelo left Florence in 1534, when other architects continued 

with his plans & verbal instructions). The architecture of the building will be covered. 

The cultural context of the library, and the items collected and the means used to 

collect these items will also be covered.  I will include information about how the 

library has evolved during the past centuries & also discuss how the library works & 

appears today. 

The story of the Medici family is very important to the history of the times & I will 

cover the members of the family that were involved in the establishment & working of 

the library.  

I will be using available books & literature from several public libraries to work on my 

project, but a majority of the information (I imagine) will be coming from on-line 

resources which I will search using databases from the State Library of Victoria, 

University Libraries & my local public library - as well as search engines available to 

me at home.  More information about search locations will be added as the project 

progresses.