#103 "The Marchesa": A Conversation with Sarah Dunant

Saturday, June 28th Live on Zoom

6pm London, 7pm Florence, 10am Los Angeles, 1pm New York

As we raid the past to redress some of the balance of male to female names in the history of art,  it is worth spending a moment considering the other element that art has always needed in order to flourish: the patron and collector.

We all know the names Gertrude Stein, Peggy Guggenheim, or even Isabella Stewart Gardner.

But what about further back in history?

Two lesser known figures cry out to be recognised. Both operated in the shadows of husbands/lovers. Both, in their way, were ornaments at court, one in a thriving Renaissance state the other inside the French monarchy  But both had will, vision and means of their own and from an early on set about patronising various art forms and amassing their own collections.

Isabella la d’Este is a wonder in her own right.

Born in the 1480’s into the Este family in Ferra , at the age of 15 she became the wife of the Marquis of mantua. Right from the start she had a huge appetite for art.  She tirelessly pursued many Renaissance giants - the likes of Leonardo, Raphael, Perugino and Titian  to deliver original works and put huge energy into buying antiquities , competing with cardinals and popes infinitely richer than herself to bring together a collection which she installed in her own private studio and apartments. (A first for a woman).  Known for her formidable spirit, she was mocked behind her back by some and praised to her face by others . But what is remarkable about her is how we can recreate her character, as she left behind an astonishing collection of archive letters ( on which I drew to write La Marchesa) and which, in themselves,  offer a rich view on the business of collecting in this fabulous moment in history.

To RSVP: Paola50122@gmail.com

Minimum suggested donation: $28

This talk is free for Friends of Paola's Studiolo!

Look forward to seeing you on Zoom!