"Living immersed in landscapes of great natural beauty, Tuscans have always harboured a deep love of flowers and gardens. During the Renaissance, in intellectual circles, this propensity developed naturally into an interest in horticulture and the botanical sciences, subjects that would coexist in perfect harmony with the Medici family's love of the arts.". "The Flowering of Florence is published in association with the National Gallery of Art, Washington, to coincide with an exhibition of about sixty-five works of art primarily from Florentine collections. This handsome volume explores the close ties between art and natural sciences in Tuscany as seen in the botanical renderings created in Florence for the Medici grand dukes from the late 1500s through the early 1700s."--BOOK JACKET.