. . . at his villa at Careggi on April 9, 1492. He was 43 years old, and had been suffering from the same disease that had affected many other members of the family, gout. He had taken the last sacrament already, but according to some accounts, called for Fr. Savanarola, who had repeatedly preached against the power and might of the Medici, to hear his confession.
Of course, we will never know if Lorenzo actually confessed to the sin of misappropriating state and trust funds, specifically the Monte di Doti, but the evidence seems to indicate that near the end of his life, Lorenzo did line his own pockets through a scheme of reducing the interest paid (see Alfred von Raumont's account in Lorenzo De' Medici: the Magnificent, Volume 2).
Lorenzo's "dark side" is symbolized for me by the above image, the reverse of the Desco da Porto (birth tray, see blog entry of 2/14/12), which was once resplendent in silver decoration that has now oxidized, and which is embellished with Piero de' Medici's emblem, a diamond ring, three feathers, and a banderole inscribed with the motto "Semper" or "Always." The birth tray was hanging on the wall of Lorenzo's bedroom at Careggi, and was included in the inventory done at his death. These inventories, while done at the time for tax purposes, have served history well in that we have documentation from the time and place.
