Agnolo di Cosimo, known as Agnolo Bronzino was a Florentine Mannerist painter. He was the pupil and adopted son of Pontormo, who introduced his portrait as a child into one of his paintings, Joseph in Egypt.

Bronzino was deeply attached to Pontormo, and his style was heavily indebted to his master. However, Bronzino lacked the emotional intensity of Pontormo's work and excelled as a portraitist rather than a religious painter.

Bronzino first received Medici patronage in 1539. He was commisioned to paint for the wedding of Cosimo I de' Medici and Eleonora di Toledo, daughter of the Viceroy of Naples. It was not long before he became, and remained for most of his career, the official court painter of the Duke and his court. His work influenced European court portraiture for a century.

Bronzino was also a poet, and his most personal portraits are perhaps those of other literary figures.

He was a much respected figure who took a prominent part in the activities of the Accademia del Disegno, of which he was a founding member in 1563. One of his pupils included Alessandro Allori who was also his adopted son.