"Among my favorite Renaissance images, many of which⁠ are housed in the Uffizi in Florence, are the portraits of various⁠ members of the Medici family by Agnolo Bronzino. These⁠ portraits are great documents of the style and times of the⁠ Florentine aristocracy. The artists of the day took great care⁠ in depicting the textile designs and colors, clothing, hairstyles,⁠ and jewelry that they wore.⁠ ⁠ The sense that jewelry has an ongoing story is very⁠ important to me. Examining these portraits fills me with ideas,⁠ from the patterns in the textiles to the individuality of the⁠ wearer. It is not that I see a specific jewel that I want to recreate;⁠ it is rather the suggestion of the jewel and the attitude with which it is worn. The Renaissance was a celebration of the⁠ individual, an important era in art history when realistic⁠ portraiture truly came into being. Personalities such as⁠ Eleonora di Toledo were highly influential at the time for⁠ their style and aesthetic point of view. They contributed to⁠ the fashion and art of the time. Bronzino’s finely detailed⁠ portraits document their importance."⁠ ⁠ - Temple St. Clair⁠ ⁠ Portrait of Maria de'Medeci, Agnolo Bronzino, c. 1530