The site below shows various portraits of the Medici family. Look for Lorenzo 1449-1492.
His life and the city of Florence play a part in the story The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant which we discussed here not long ago.
Don't know of any 'jokes' to do with his portrait, unless the artists tried to make him better-looking than he was.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lorenzo de Medici

I know who he was (looked him up the first time he was mentioned), but is he much admired? I'm wondering because I've found mention of him by both a British and an American author, both times in passing, as if his existence should be common knowledge. In Peters' book, I get the feeling maybe the character's admiration of him is supposed to reflect on what kind of person she is.

Is the character in Peter's book ruthless, rich and domineering or does she admire these 'qualities'?
I suppose all the Medici were tough, strong characters but probably not the sort of people we would admire today. They all seem like the forerunners of modern Maffia bosses, with some culture thrown in.

I suppose he was much admired for putting Florence on the map, in terms of Renaissance art, as he was quite the patron of prominent artists. In that sense, Lorenzo did a lot which was positive for the high culture and architecture of the city. (At least, this is what we art historians were taught at Univ.)

I read the Dunant book. I'm unaware of any joke associated with the painting, but will look into it.

You may both be onto something. The character is rich and meddleome (not exactly controlling, just thinks she knows what's good for people and manipulates things to make good things happen to them), and collects art.

I could be wrong (!) but I thought I read somewhere that Lorenzo was deformed or ugly-and a lot of the paintings of Richard III were altered (I read) to make him deformed when he really wasn't....so maybe that is the connection-as I say just a wild guess.

Pat

netla-is the Peters book from the Amelia series, or one of her other series?

CeCe, The Murders of Richard III is in the Jacqueline Kirby series by Peters.

I don't know about any inside joke, Netla, but he shows up a number of historical novels I've read over the years and generally as a shining light of civilization and as one of the engines of the Renaissance. Or at least that is what my memory is left with - been years since I read much about him.

Chris, the Peters book is actually one of her humourous non-series novels, Devil May Care. The likeness to Richard III is mentioned in Josephine Tey's The Daughter of Time, which I believe has a similar theme as The Murders of Richard III (which I haven't read).

Oh my, Netla. I think you have discovered a Barbara Mertz book I don't think I've read. And from the description on Amazon, (except that you say it is humourous) it sounds more like her Barbara Michaels' novels.

Sorry, I was, of course, thinking you meant the Peter's book with the same theme as the Tey.

Macchiavelli dedicated his book, THE PRINCE, to Lorenzo the Magnificent. I doubt there was a joke involved for him.

I keep waiting for one of our British gang to come on and post "no,no,no...not THAT Lorenzo-Lorenzo the Magnificant who was a vaudeville magician" or some such. The name just begs to be trumpeted from the center ring. But I do think in reality, he is admired for being enlightened, obsessed, and bigger than life.
I'll have to look for Devil May Care.

Tim Park's Medici Money has a very interesting take on Lorenzo. Cosimo, his grandfather, built up the bank that made the family's wealth, but apparently Lorenzo had no interest in banking or being a working man; he wanted a more aristocratic lifestyle and so neglected the business that supported his expensive habits. He also consolidated political power into his own hands, so that under his rule, Florence was a republic in name only. It's a very interesting, short read.

I think the joke (if a joke was meant) is probably in the name. I does strike one as being that of a circus perfomer or stunt man in the Evel Knievel tradition.