Originali e copie nellaLetteradi Filippo Baldinucci a Vincenzo Capponi

This contribution aims to analyse Filippo Baldinucci’s Letter to Vincenzo Capponi (Rome, 1681) in all its aspects, particularly its concept of original and copy, taking into account Baldinucci’s position in the Accademia del Disegno and in the Roman cultural milieu. Through some examples, the essay also intends to assess the Letter vis-à-vis the correspondence between the Medici agents in Venice and the court, in order to emphasise the relation between the artistic literature on copies and the practical experience of the individuals who had to secure paintings for demanding collectors such as prince Leopoldo de’ Medici.