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Renaissance Women

Isabella d'Este







1474-1539
"First Lady of the Renaissance"

INTRODUCTION
In the Renaissance times a Renaissance Woman was supposed to marry well, be loyalto her husband and give birth to boys. A Renaissance Man, on the other hand, had to be well-educated, have cultural grace, be a gentleman and understand the arts and sciences. He also had to haverefinement, be of noble birth and have courage. Many women did not fit the mold of what they called a "Renaissance Woman." Many of them would fit in as more of a "Renaissance Man" or what we would call a"Renaissance Woman" in our day and age.
A prime example of this exception is Isabella d'Este.
BACKGROUND
Isabella d'Este was born in 1474 into the ruling family of Ferra. At the age of sixteenIsabella married Francesco Gonzaga. She then became the Marchioness of Mantua because Francesco was the Prince.
After the death of her husband, Isabella ruled Mantua alone. Isabella's father believed inthe equality of men and women and so Isabella and her siblings were very well-educated. Isabella died at the age of sixty-four in 1539.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
At the age of sixteen, Isabella d'Este wasable to speak Greek and Latin as well as play the lute, sing, dance and debate with people much older than her. She was very well-educated and her political talent benefited Mantua while she wasruling. When her husband left, Isabella governed the city on her own, and after he died she took over his whole job. She showed great leadership skills in 1509 when she became Chief of State in Mantua.
Atthis time she also founded a school for young women where they had to observe a strict code of morals. She was a patron of the Arts and she also set artistic fashions and standards. Isabellacollected many paintings and statues. She also wrote over two thousand letters and in these she commented on everything from politics to war. That was the closest that any woman at that time ever got to...