18 April – A Famous Birthday: LUCREZIA BORGIA by Luisa Zambrotta

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220px-Lucretia_Borgia_Pinturicchio

Pinturicchio

Lucrezia Borgia was born on April 18, 1480, in Subiaco, near Rome. She was the illegitimate daughter of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, who ruled as Pope Alexander VI from 1492 to 1503 and whose family became known for their crimes and debauchery
She could speak and write several languages, among which Italian, French, Latin, and Greek.
Her three marriages into influential families helped advance the political power of her own family.

Historians debate whether or not Lucrezia was the femme fatale, poisoner and plotter, who took active part in her notorious family’s crimes, a role in which she has been portrayed in many works of art, books, and films. Today history seems kinder to her, and regards her as a victim, manipulated by her father and her brother to attain political success.

She is described as having very long flowing blonde hair,  which she spent a long time grooming, and bleached to keep it light. She had a beautiful complexion, hazel eyes and a natural grace that made her appear to walk on air.
Lord Byron discovered, in the archive of the Ambrosiana Library in Milan, that one of her letters to poet and writer Pietro Bembo contained a strand of hair and defined it “the prettiest and fairest imaginable.”
There are many portraits depicting her, most of them pretty fanciful, but in 2008 a Renaissance portrait was identified as potentially the world’s only painting of Lucrezia Borgia. It is an oval painting by Dosso Dossi one of the great northern Italian painters, representing a lady closely resembling a bronze portrait medal of Lucrezia, made in 1502.

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Dosso Dossi – 1518

Bartolomeo Veneto: Portrait of a Woman traditionally assumed to be Lucrezia Borgia

16 respuestas a “18 April – A Famous Birthday: LUCREZIA BORGIA by Luisa Zambrotta”

  1. Avatar de gabychops

    Thank you, dear Luisa, for the wonderful portrait of the fascinating life of the beautiful Lucrezia Borgia. Your kind view of the woman known for her evil nature put her in a new light as a victim rather than the perpetrator. I love all the additional art!

    Joanna x

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  2. Avatar de luisa zambrotta

    So glad you appreciated this article, my dear Joanna!
    Thank you so much for your kind words

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  3. Avatar de luisa zambrotta

    🙏💖🙏💖🙏

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  4. Avatar de Priscilla Bettis

    We studied the Borgia family in school. They were … outrageous! I do wonder if Lucrezia was a victim or a schemer.

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  5. […] 18 April – A Famous Birthday: LUCREZIA BORGIA by Luisa Zambrotta […]

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  6. Avatar de equipsblog

    Lovely write-up dear Luisa. Thanks for sharing it with us.

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  7. Avatar de sherazade

    figura complessa e affascinante a seconda del periodo storico e culturale in cui viene valutata.

    🌹

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  8. […] 18 April – A Famous Birthday: LUCREZIA BORGIA by Luisa Zambrotta […]

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  9. Avatar de vermavkv

    Nice information shared..Thanks.

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  10. Avatar de kagould17

    I had often heard of Lucrezia Borgia, but never knew the story. It sounds like there is still a lot of mystery surrounding her and her family. Have a wonderful Wednesday Luisa. Allan

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  11. Avatar de Shaharee

    It seems she was a great administrator and managed well the estates she inherited and was apparently also very high up in the papal administration where she ran the personal correspondence of her father. Probably one of the most powerful woman of her time and as such also very groomed into the machinations needed to wield it. What brough her down was this incessant drive of her husbands to produce heirs. Dying at 39 after a complicated birth was sadly enough not such an uncommon feat in those times.

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  12. Avatar de randydafoe

    This is a bit of an eye opener for me as I had made assumptions based on popular belief.

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  13. Avatar de Monkey's Tale

    We watched a series on the Borgia family a few years ago. I didnt know anything about them before the show. It was very well done and made partly by a Canadian broadcaster. I think it’s on Prime now.

    Lucretzisa is characterized similar to what you’ve said. Maggie

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  14. Avatar de Mary K. Doyle

    Lucretzisa is fascinating and someone I’d like to know more about. Thank you for bringing her to us, dear Luisa.

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  15. Avatar de gattapazza

    Tradotto ( col traduttore) letto anche perché ho dato il suo nome alla mia gatta. Personaggio affascinante 🌟

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  16. Avatar de rkrontheroad

    I find it very believable that she may have been a victim, manipulated by the men in her family and milieu. Thanks for this kinder portrait of the fascinating woman.

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