1459 [4 June – extract from Ortalli 1996b]
"Further proof of the Este interest in mechanical card production comes […] from a note of 4 June 1459 concerning objects lent to a certain Anselino di Salimbeni by the prince; among them was a box containing "stampe for trump cards"[see note 90]. I would say that those stampe were printing blocks and the fact that Duke Borso actually owned them is highly significant. They may well have been the blocks for a whole pack bought in January 1454, recorded in the book Conti di Borso: "uno paro de forme de carte, the printing blocks for a pack of cards purchased from Piero Andrea da le Fenestre" for 20 ducats [see note 91]."(Note 90): ASMO, Guardaroba, 7, Ricordo, 1442-1465, fol. 34. I am again indebted to Adriano Franceschini for this information. (Note 91): Franceschini 1993, p. 415, n. 731a.
[Ortalli 1996b:194]
The year 1459 is dominated by the Congress of Mantua. This do lead to much direct communication between the leading families of Italy. The 15-years-old Galeazzo Maria visited Florence during the stay of Pope Pius II (April/May), who is at his journey to Mantua. There are a lot of festivities in that time and one of them is shown at the famous paintings in the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi, Florence, by Benozzo Gozzoli, 1459-61. Most art historians believe this is the 15-year old Galeazzo Maria. Lorenzo de Medici is in this 10 years old.
Beside the Congress of Mantua in Florence the Platonic Academy is refounded by Marsilio Ficino, a regularely meeting of intellectuals, poets, artists and philosophers. It becomes the heart of art revolution in Florence.
