Lorenzo de Medici's family ruled Florence for generations. During his time as family's leader, he promoted the arts, becoming a patron to great artists who are still known today. Lorenzo sickens and dies early in the novel, an event that moves the plot and serves to illustrate one of the most tumultuous times in Florence history. At the end of the novel, we learn that Mrs. Cecchi, Alessandra's mother, was Lorenzo's lover, and that he is actually Alessandra's biological father.
The Birth of Venus: A Novel