Bindo Altoviti

Bindo Altoviti of the House of Altoviti was one of the most influential papal banker of his generation and patron to the arts cultivating close friendships with artists as Vasari, Cellini, Raphael and Michelangelo

His father was Antonio Altoviti was the papal Master of the Mint and his mother La Papessa Dianora Altoviti, niece of Giambattista Cabo, Pope Innocent VIII. One of Bindo's direct descendants was Pope Clement XII.

Bindo Altoviti was born in 1491. Little is known about his youth or early education. As the Altoviti had blood ties with the houses of Cybo and Medici and alliances with the della Rovere, Pope Julius II (Guiliano della Rovere) became a mentor to Bindo as he was to his later successors Leo X (Giovanni de' Medici) and Clemente VII (Giulio de' Medici). Bindo was included among the young noblemen educated at the papal court where he was in attendance of the hostage Federico Gonzaga, the son of Isabella d’Esteand future duke of Mantua. During these years he also got introduced to Bramante, Raphael, and Michelangelo.

At the same time the Altoviti had ever since strong Republican leanings. Bindo became known not for just being a dashing young aristocrat, who had more to his credit than mere pulchritude, rather risking wealth and power for his ideals. He married Fiammetta Soderini, niece of Piero Soderini, head of the Florentine government and who had together with his second chancellor Niccolò Machiavelli unsuccessfully raised an army of national militia to defend Florence against the return of the Medici.However, loyal to family, Bindo's career flourished under Leo X and Clemente VII.

From the documents in the Vatican archives, it is possible to trace Bindo’s raise to prominence as a banker. Respected at the papal court, he contributed to the festivities of Leo X. He established partnerships with the Spinelli, Ricci, Pucci and Ruspoli, promoting the career of Bartolomeo Ruspoli, who was related to cardinal Niccolò Ardinghelli, an influential member of the Farnesefraction and intimate associate of Alessandro Farnese, future Pope Paul III.

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