Medici masterpieces and Chinese camels

A look ahead to Maastricht, where star attractions include panels from the Medici workshops and a pair of Tang camels

- Huon Mallalieu

FRANZ I, Holy Roman Emperor (1745–65), Fran-çois III Étienne, Duke of Lorraine and Bar (1729–37), and Francesco Stefano, Grand Duke of Tuscany (1737–65), were all the same person. At that period, as so often in its long history, Lorraine was a shuttlecock between its neighbours, France and Germany, and it became a vital element in the diplomatic manoeuvring that ended the War of the Polish Succession. Francis (for simplicity) was married to the Emperor’s heiress, Maria Theresa, whereas the defeated candidate in Poland was father-in-law to Louis XV.

Francis gave up his duchies to Polish Stanislaus, who, in time, would leave them to the French Queen. There was also a succession problem in Tuscany, where the last Medici had no male heir, so Francis was compensated there. In due course, he and Maria Theresa inherited the imperial crown, which inevitably ignited the War of the Austrian Succession—und so weiter, und so weiter.

If given Tuscany as a wedding present, most people would happily spend as much time there as possible, even if Florence was very dilapidated, despite the final Medici’s efforts. Francis and Maria Theresa spent only three months there, at the beginning of 1739. One of the things that they did during their stay was to visit the