Berlin's Bode Museum Unveils the Bloodstained Legacy of Florence's Pazzi Conspiracy

A new exhibition at Berlin’s Bode Museum examines one of Florence’s darkest moments—the 1478 Pazzi conspiracy. The show, titled The Pazzi Conspiracy, brings together rare artefacts, including a medal depicting the assassination of the Medici brothers and a plaster cast of Giuliano de' Medici’s injured jaw. Visitors can explore the event’s political fallout and its lasting impact on Renaissance art until September 20, 2026. The Pazzi family orchestrated a violent coup during a cathedral service in Florence. Their target: Lorenzo and Giuliano de' Medici, the city’s ruling brothers. Giuliano was fatally stabbed, while Lorenzo escaped with a wound. The attack sparked immediate backlash, as Florentines turned against the conspirators. Francesco de' Pazzi and the Archbishop of Pisa were captured and executed, crushing the rebellion.

The failed plot reshaped Florentine politics and left a mark on Renaissance culture. The Bode Museum’s exhibition highlights this turmoil through objects like a 1478 bronze medal by Bertoldo di Giovanni. The medal’s detailed relief shows the assassination in stark, dramatic form. Another striking piece is a plaster cast of Giuliano’s jawbone, revealing the precise location of the fatal sword strike. Alongside these artefacts, the show features Donatello’s delicate *Madonna* relief. Often called the *Pazzi Madonna*, the piece has little proven connection to the family. Instead, it reflects the era’s artistic shifts, influenced by the political upheaval of the time.

The exhibition runs until September 20, 2026, offering a close look at a turning point in Florentine history. Through coins, medals, and forensic evidence, visitors can trace the Pazzi conspiracy’s violent origins and its ripple effects across politics and art. The Bode Museum’s collection provides a rare chance to see these pivotal objects in one place.