Gian Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli and Florence: Notes on a difficult relationship.

This article examines Gian Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli’s lifelong relationship with Florence’s artistic environment, collections, and art market, highlighting his repeated visits from childhood through the mid-19th century. Rooted in his family’s longstanding ties to Florence, particularly through his mother Rosina Trivulzio’s connections, Poldi Pezzoli engaged with the city’s museums, private collections, and cultural events such as the 1861 Italian National Exhibition and the 1865 Dante celebrations. Despite his familiarity with Florentine art and collectors, Poldi Pezzoli maintained a cautious stance toward the local art market, influenced by scandals involving forgeries and his family’s negative experiences, leading him to rely primarily on trusted Milanese dealers. His collecting preferences reflected a modern, eclectic approach shaped by Tuscan artistic traditions but distinct from the more traditional Florentine aristocratic collections.