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1480 - Lucrezia Borgia, duchess of Ferrara.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucrezia_Borgia
This article is about the historical person. For the biographical opera, see Lucrezia Borgia (opera). Lucrezia Borgia is also the name Buffalo Bill gave to his gun.
Portrait of a Woman by Bartolomeo Veneziano, traditionally assumed to be Lucrezia Borgia.
Tomb of Alfonso I d'Este and Lucrezia Borgia, Ferrara.Lucrezia Borgia April 18, 1480 - June 24, 1519) was the daughter of Rodrigo Borgia, the powerful Renaissance Valencian who later became Pope Alexander VI, and Vannozza dei Cattanei. Her brothers included Cesare Borgia, Giovanni Borgia, and Gioffre Borgia.[1]
Lucrezia's family later came to epitomize the ruthless Machiavellian politics and sexual corruption alleged to be characteristic of the Renaissance Papacy. In this story Lucrezia was cast as a femme fatale, a role she has been portrayed as in many artworks, novels and films.
No authentic portrait of Lucrezia is known, though several paintings, such as Bartolomeo Veneziano's fanciful portrait (see illustration) have been said to depict her. Often these images are simply part of Lucrezia's myth.
Not enough is known about the historical Lucrezia to be certain whether any of the stories about her active involvement in her father's and brother's crimes are true. Her father and/or brother certainly arranged several marriages for her to important or powerful men, in order to advance their own political ambitions. Lucrezia was married to Giovanni Sforza (Lord of Pesaro), Alfonso of Aragon, Duke of Bisceglie, and Alphonso d'Este (Prince of Ferrara). Tradition has it that Alfonso of Aragon was an illegitimate son of the King of Naples and that Cesare may have had him murdered after his political value waned.
Legends and Rumors
Several legends and rumors have persisted throughout the years, primarily speculating as to the nature of the extravagant parties thrown by the Borgia family.
It is rumored that Lucrezia was in possession of a hollow ring that she used frequently to poison drinks. [1] [2] [3]
There has been much speculation of an incestuous relationship between Lucrezia and her father and brothers. The rumours were started by her first husband, in an attempt to clean his image after being declared impotent by the Pope. The fact that the Borgias were very close to each other was taken as a proof to support the rumours. However, there is no concrete evidence.[citation needed]
An early 20th-century painting by Cadogan Cowper that hangs in the London art gallery Tate Britain portrays Lucrezia taking the place of her father, Alexander VI at an official Vatican meeting. This apparently documents an actual event, although the precise moment depicted, (a Franciscan friar kissing Lucrezia's feet), was invented by the artist.[4]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucrezia_Borgia
This article is about the historical person. For the biographical opera, see Lucrezia Borgia (opera). Lucrezia Borgia is also the name Buffalo Bill gave to his gun.
Portrait of a Woman by Bartolomeo Veneziano, traditionally assumed to be Lucrezia Borgia.
Tomb of Alfonso I d'Este and Lucrezia Borgia, Ferrara.Lucrezia Borgia April 18, 1480 - June 24, 1519) was the daughter of Rodrigo Borgia, the powerful Renaissance Valencian who later became Pope Alexander VI, and Vannozza dei Cattanei. Her brothers included Cesare Borgia, Giovanni Borgia, and Gioffre Borgia.[1]
Lucrezia's family later came to epitomize the ruthless Machiavellian politics and sexual corruption alleged to be characteristic of the Renaissance Papacy. In this story Lucrezia was cast as a femme fatale, a role she has been portrayed as in many artworks, novels and films.
No authentic portrait of Lucrezia is known, though several paintings, such as Bartolomeo Veneziano's fanciful portrait (see illustration) have been said to depict her. Often these images are simply part of Lucrezia's myth.
Not enough is known about the historical Lucrezia to be certain whether any of the stories about her active involvement in her father's and brother's crimes are true. Her father and/or brother certainly arranged several marriages for her to important or powerful men, in order to advance their own political ambitions. Lucrezia was married to Giovanni Sforza (Lord of Pesaro), Alfonso of Aragon, Duke of Bisceglie, and Alphonso d'Este (Prince of Ferrara). Tradition has it that Alfonso of Aragon was an illegitimate son of the King of Naples and that Cesare may have had him murdered after his political value waned.
Legends and Rumors
Several legends and rumors have persisted throughout the years, primarily speculating as to the nature of the extravagant parties thrown by the Borgia family.
It is rumored that Lucrezia was in possession of a hollow ring that she used frequently to poison drinks. [1] [2] [3]
There has been much speculation of an incestuous relationship between Lucrezia and her father and brothers. The rumours were started by her first husband, in an attempt to clean his image after being declared impotent by the Pope. The fact that the Borgias were very close to each other was taken as a proof to support the rumours. However, there is no concrete evidence.[citation needed]
An early 20th-century painting by Cadogan Cowper that hangs in the London art gallery Tate Britain portrays Lucrezia taking the place of her father, Alexander VI at an official Vatican meeting. This apparently documents an actual event, although the precise moment depicted, (a Franciscan friar kissing Lucrezia's feet), was invented by the artist.[4]
