#Portrait of Elisabetta Gonzaga Duchess of Urbino

[books0977]

Portrait of Elisabetta Gonzaga, Duchess of Urbino (c.1502). Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio) (Italian, 1483-1520). Oil on panel. The Uffizi.

Elisabetta Gonzaga, wife of Duke of Urbino, Guidubaldo da Montefeltro, was one of the most important figures in the cultural life of her time. A lover of art and literature, Elisabetta is praised as the personification of grace, the most appreciated quality in the perfect lady of court. The position of the subject, shown to just under her chest, leaves out arms and hands to focus solely on the shoulders and the face, which are shown strictly from the front. The duchess is dressed in black, with a “gamurra” (or “camurra”) dress decorated with rectangles set out in gold and silver, in an asymmetrical design, inspired by the heraldic colors of the Montefeltro family. The duchess’ white neckline has gold lettering in Kufic characters, and she is wearing two simple gold chains around her neck. On her extremely white forehead is a jewel in the shape of a scorpion, containing a precious stone. The ultra-fine painting techniques, featuring contrasts between the deep shadow of the dress and the pale tones of the subject’s skin, are together with the painstaking attention to every detail. This early work by the artist shows his aptitude for representing the stirrings of the soul, his desire to make even an official portrait such as that of Elisabetta more authentic and exciting, leaving the onlooker to experience all of the truth of the expression in that reserved, noble gaze, as well as in the still youthful curve of the lips.

[prideandprejudice]

lucrezia borgia time 💖

to the anon who sent an ask about lucrezia and her relationships in court: i'm sorry but tumblr just deleted your ask and i decided to reply in text... i really don't know what happened but unfortunately it’s not the first time ))): i couldn't fix it but i didn't want to leave you unanswered!

well, i don't know if ferrara was on your mind when you sended the ask but her moments during her third marriage are the most documented, so... i believe it’s easier to focus in ferrara anyway! 

firstly, it’s important to say that her ladies (angela borgia, nicola, catherinella among others) accompanied lucrezia from rome to ferrara, what i believe was extremely positive! it’s worth remembering that lucrezia was making a transition from an extremely familiar court to an unknown one, which required a time of adaptation and having reliable people close to her was certainly necessary:

“Alfonso d’Este and Lucrezia became duke and duchess of Ferrara in 1505 after the death of Ercole, but Lucrezia’s position at court could still have been tenuous, as she did not produce the requisite male heir until 1508. As the illegitimate daughter of a pope from the minor Spanish aristocracy, a man now reviled and denounced by his successor Julius II, she may have felt that her background and history did not match that of most noblewomen of her rank. Contemporaries such as her sister-in-law, Isabella d’Este, Marchesa of Mantua, and Elisabetta Gonzaga, Duchess of Urbino had led much more sheltered lives, and did not welcome the new bride into their circle. Lucrezia, however, naturally possessed many of the qualities that noblewomen needed to survive at court: intelligence, charm, skill at singing and dancing, and a pious nature.“ (Rewriting Lucrezia Borgia: Propriety, Magnificence and Piety in Portraits of a Renaissance Duchess)

in addition, lucrezia has always been known as patron of the arts in ferrara, demonstrating her aptitude and relating to several types of artists. i do believe that the most recurrent is pietro bembo, a venetian scholar and poet, whom she befriended in 1503 during his stay in ferrara! he described her as both virtuous and intellectual:

“… as one who, longing rather to dress out her soul with comely virtues than to coverher body with precious clothes, devotes whatever time she can to reading or writing something; so, much as your beauty surpasses that of other ladies, the attractions ofyour mind may eclipse those of your body, and you may become, as it were greaterthan yourself…”

tbqh, it’s expected that lucrezia has experienced any kind of romantic affairs (despite showing respect and even love for alfonso d’este) but i believe she was cautious in showing her interests and even political maneuvers to “anyone”, if that makes sense... as usual, members of the borgia family surrounded themselves with family, old acquaintances (usually of spanish origin) and rarely showed the same affection for "strangers"; so... for me, it's easier to see lucrezia in her role as patron of ferrara, keeping people artistically and socially active, who passed through places of service and levels of friendship! 

thank you so much and i hope i helped in any way <3

[republicmatters]

Thoughts on Raphael: Courtier, Wanderer, Superstar Portraitist

Thoughts on Raphael: Courtier, Wanderer, Superstar Portraitist

Raffaello Sanzio (1483-1520), Portrait of Guidoboldo Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino, oil on panel, 1502; and Portrait of Elisabetta Gonzaga, Duchess of Urbino, oil on panel, 1502. (Public Domain/via Wikimedia)

A courtier, a wanderer, a high-stepping superstar portraitist with the gift of empathy

NRPLUS MEMBER ARTICLE W ell, “random thoughts” mightn’t be precise since I never do…

[schasem]