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OVER
THE COUNTER of art, the schemers behind the scenes of diplomatic and
bloody intrigue. The kings and the other representatives of governments
came to them—they did not go to the rulers. To them goes much of the
credit for the Renaissance in the arts and literature and luxurious
living.
The
history of the Florentine before the Media's is not known today. But it
was this kind of stone. It was of a citron yellow, or light
greenish-yellow, color, perfectly clear, perfectly free from Aaws, and
it weighed 137-1/2 metric carats. Outstanding feature of it was its 126
facets which caused it to give out an unusual dispersion of fiery
light. It had nine flat sides about the girdle, giving it somewhat the
appearance of a nine-rayed star. Its value was estimated at $800,000.
Its
style, however, explained something of its history. A double-rose
pendeloque in shape, it had all the indications of a typical Indian
cutting of the early eighteenth century, and even though Tavernier
could not trace it back that far, the general belief is that it did
come from the ancient mines of India. What happened there no one knows.
ProbÂably no one ever will know. So far as the history of the stone is
concerned, it begins with the Medicis.
When
it became clear that the famous Medici family was coming to the end of
its long and fabulous career the larger nations of Europe turned
covetous eyes toward the Duchy of Tuscany, of which Florence long had
been the capital, ruled over by the Medicis. Representatives of various
nations held long and belligerent conferences about it until finally it
was decided that Austria would take over the duchy. A few complicated
international deals followed. An arrangement was made whereby Maria
Theresa of Austria was to marry Francis Stephen, Duke of Lorraine. The
Duke
(167)
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