Giovanni Tornabuoni

Giovanni Tornabuoni was an Italian banker and the patron of art from Florence.

Tornabuoni was in family relations with the prominent Medici family as his sister Lucrezia was the wife of Piero de Medici (1414-1469) and mother of Lorenzo de Magnificent.

In 1443, only a 15-years old Tornabuoni joined the Roman branch of the Medici bank which was the most profitable. After he gained the experience, he became in charge for pope’s finances and served as a treasurer of the Pope Sixtus IV. In 1465 at age of 38 Tornabuoni became a manager of the Roman branch office. In addition to banking services, Tornabuoni also served as Florentine ambassador in the Papal court (1480, 1484) and Gonfaloniere di Giustizia (1482).

In his possessions were a grand palace in the center of Florence, and two villas in the countryside. As patron of the arts, Tornabuoni engaged Domenico Ghirlandaio in 1485 to paint frescoes in what was to become the Tornabuoni Chapel in the church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence. Together with his wife, Francesca Pitti they are portrayed as donors in the choir wall.