VITTORIA DELLA ROVERE

SOLDANI BENZI, Massimiliano: ITALY, 1685, Bronze, 87 mm
Obv: Bust of Victoria Della Rovere (right) in the costume of an oblate of the Congregazione di Montalve, with a pendant cross    VICTORIA MAG. DVC. ETR.
Rev: Uniface
Signed:  M. SOLD. F.
Ref: Johnson p.96, #99; Vannel and Toderi, 43 (obv)

Vittoria della Rovere (1622-1694) was the daughter of Claudia de' Medici and Federico Ubaldo of Rovere. In 1623, Victoria was promised to be the spouse to her cousin Ferdinand II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. The marriage was formalized in 1634 and effected in 1637. In 1631, on the death of her grandfather Francesco Maria II della Rovere, Vittoria inherited an important art collection, which was to be added to the de' Medici collection. Vittoria became widowed in 1670 when Ferdinando de' Medici died. She became the patroness of the Congregation of Montalve in 1680. She died in 1694 and had a grand funeral in the church of San Lorenzo in Florence.

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