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season five

Episode 84: Too Few Heirs

The Medici family are approaching the brink of extinction. It’s up to Cosimo III’s three children to preserve the family, but even with the dynasty’s survival on the line, the Medici cannot stop themselves from repeating the mistakes of the recent past.

A portrait of Ferdinando and Anna Maria Luisa as children (not dated) with an unknown woman, who historians believe is either a governess or the children’s grandmother Vittoria della Rovere. The artist is Justus Sustermans. Source: Museo Stibbert.

“Prince Ferdinando and the Musicians” by Anton Domenico Gabbiani depicts Ferdinando with some of the musicians he helped patronize (1685-1690). Ferdinando is the second from the right. Source: The Pitti Palace.
Jan Frans van Douven’s portrait of Anna Maria Luisa (date unknown). Source: Private collection.
Gian Gastone as a young man by Niccolo Cassana (ca. 1690). Source: Private collection.

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