I decided to go way back in time today, mostly because Isabella D’Este was such a fascinating woman, especially for her time.  I had never heard of her before and only came across her while doing research on the Caracciolo family.  She was on of the most important women of her time and had a lot of influence into the art of the 15th and 16th centuries as you will see.  Francesco II Gonzaga was the Marquis of Mantua and an Italian General that had a long affair with Lucrezia Borgia Pope Alexander’s daughter.

Isabella d’Este

Isabella d’Este was the Marchioness of Mantua, Italy from 1490-1519.  Recognized as the “First Lady of the Renaissance.”  Isabella is famous for her patronage of the arts, literature and music, during the high Renaissance.  

Born in 1474 at the Este Castle in Ferrara, she was a brilliant child that astonished instructors.  At the age of six, a marriage was arranged by her royal family.  Creating a military alliance with Mantua.  The Marquees of Mantua, held the powerful position, Captain of the Papal Army.  In 1490 at the age of 15, Isabella d’Este married Francesco Gonzaga, the Marquees of Mantua.

In 1491, Isabella’s younger sister, Beatrice, married the Regent of Milan.  The regent, Ludovico Sforza, was the acting ruler of Milan and patron of Leonardo da Vinci.  Isabella was introduced to Leonardo through her sister at the court of Milan.  Where Leonardo worked as an engineer, artist and teacher to a small group of apprentices. 

While working for Ludovico, Leonardo created the Gran Cavallo (Sforza Monument), The Last Supper and Lady with Ermine, a portrait of Ludovico’s mistress, Cecilia Gallerani.  Invented weapons and fortifications for the city.  In addition to designing decorations for the Sforza Castle, festivals in Milan and theatrical performances. 

In 1498, Isabella decided to seek the best portrait painter to capture her image.  Judging portraits by Bellini and Leonardo.  Isabella requesting the loan of Lady with Ermine, from Cecilia Gallerani.  Cecilia sent the painting to Mantua.  Where Isabella determined Leonardo to be the winner of her contest. Unable to release himself from the demands of Ludovico.  Leonardo remained in Milan until French forces invaded in 1499.

After the invasion, several Milanese took refuge in Isabella’s nearby castle of Mantua.  The natural aquatic fortification of the city and the military position of the Marquees of Mantua, lead many to find shelter within the walls of the Castello di San Giorgio.  Including Cecilia Gallerani, Leonardo da Vinci, Luca Pacioli and Duchess Isabella d’Aragona. 

During his stay in Mantua, Leonardo began the portrait of Isabella.  Finishing two masterful sketches of the 25-year-old Marchioness.  Leaving one for Isabella.  Leonardo took the second, as he traveled on the Venice.  The musician Lorenzo Pavia wrote Isabella in March of 1500, “Leonardo Vinci is in Venice, and has shown me a portrait of Your Highness, which is exactly like you, and is so well done that it is not possible for it to be better.”

In April of 1501, Leonardo contacted Isabella through Frater Petrus de Novellara.  “If he can, as he hopes, end his engagement with the King of France without displeasing him by the end of the month at the latest, he would rather serve Your Excellency than any other person in the world.”  Concluding, “He will do your portrait immediately.”  Later that month, Isabella received news from Leonardo, through her father’s envoy in Florence, Manfredo de Manfredi.  “All he could say for the moment was that I might send you word that he has begun what Your Highness desired.”  

In 1504, Isabella writes Leonardo thanking him in a letter.  “We shall remain so deeply obliged to you that our sole desire will be to do what you wish, and from this time for the we are ready to do your service and pleasure.”  Correspondence between Isabella and Leonardo begin with his departure from Milan, and continue until his return in 1506. 

In April of 1507, Isabella was invited to Milan for the festival of the French King Louis XII.  Where a tournament was given in her honor.  Leonardo was present at the King’s request, to create triumphal arches and arrange court pageants.  Isabella and Leonardo, once again, assembled at the court in Milan.  Provided the opportunity for Isabella to see her portrait, Leonardo brought with him.  After this visit, there are no further inquiries about her portrait.  It is hard to image the elation Isabella must have felt.  When Leonardo revealed the unimaginable beauty he created, reflecting her image.   

Isabella spent the rest of her life supporting and fostering geniuses of the high Renaissance.  However, none would compare to the brilliance exhibited by the Great Leonardo.  Capable of immortalizing subject and artist, in the world’s most celebrated painting.

Francesco II Gonzaga

Francesco II Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua (1466-1519) was an Italian general best known for commanding the Italian army at the battle of Fornovo in 1495 when he was commander of the armies of Venice, but who also spent many years in the French service as well as briefly fighting for the Pope.

Francesco was the son of Marquess Federico I Gonzaga of Mantua. His father died in 1484 when Francesco was eighteen, and Francesco inherited his titles.

In 1489 Gonzaga became commander of the armies of Venice, a post he held until 1498.

In 1490 Gonzaga married Isabella d’Esta, one of the most famous women of the Italian Renaissance, a patrol of the arts and regent of Mantua during the frequent absences of Francesco, and during the minority of their son.

In 1494 Charles VIII of France invaded Italy, marking the start of the long period of the Italian Wars. His main aim was to enforce his claim to the kingdom of Naples, but as his powerful army moved south it caused great disruption wherever it went. In April French envoys reached Mantua asking for free passage for the French army as they moved south. Gonzaga refused as he felt this wasn’t compatible with his role as commander of the Venetian army.

At first the French met little resistance, but the easy conquest of Naples worried the Italian powers and early in 1495 a league was formed against them, which included the Pope, the Spanish, Venice and Milan. Gonzaga was appointed captain of the armies of the league. He was thus the command of the league army at the Battle of Fornovo (6 July 1495), an unsuccessful attempt to stop Charles VIII during his retreat from Naples.

Gonzaga then went on to besiege the Duke of Orleans (the future Louis XII) at Novara. Orleans was forced to surrender before Charles could rescue him, and the war soon came to an end. Charles retreated back across the Alps, and his intervention in Italy appeared to have achieved little. In 1496 Venice sent an army south to help Ferdinand II, king of Naples, regain control of the rest of his kingdom, where French garrisons were still holding out. Ironically the French commander was Gilbert Montpensier, Gonzaga’s brother-in-law, married to his sister Clara. By the autumn of 1496 the war was over, and Gonzaga was able to return home.

After the war was over Gonzaga began to fall out of favour in Venice, where he was believed to be too close to the French. His time as captain-general of the Venetian army ended in 1498, just before the outbreak of the Second Italian War (Italian War of Louis XII, (1499-1503)

In 1498 Ludovico Sforza, duke of Milan, agreed an alliance with the Emperor Maximilian, as part of his efforts to protect himself against the danger of French invasion. Gonzaga was offered the post of commander of the allied army, but he was unhappy that he wouldn’t also be captain-general of the Milanese army. At the start of 1499 he accepted the post, but soon after this France and Venice agreed an anti-Milan alliance. The relationship between Gonzaga and Ludovico was poor, Gonzaga’s pay was in arrears, and he still had some hope of returning to Venetian service. In May 1499 he entered into secret negotiations with Louis XII of France, and he was present later in the year when Louis made his triumphal entry into Milan. In the following year, when Ludovico made a brief return to Milan, Gonzaga refused to commit himself and managed to avoid being dragged down with him (Second Italian War).

In 1502 Gonzaga began a long-standing relationship with Lucrezia Borgia (not his first affair). Although this caused some tension in their marriage, Francesco and Isabella had eight children, four of them born after the start of the affair. The marriage broke down in around 1512, probably due to Francesco’s jealously when his wife turned out to be a more able diplomat and ruler than he had been.

In 1502 Gonzaga also entered the service of Louis XII of France, at least in part to protect his duchy against the ambitions of Cesar Borgia, then at the height of his power. In the following year Cesar’s father Pope Alexander VI died, and his power quickly collapsed.

In 1503 Gonzaga was present with the Franco-Italian army that was campaigning against the Spanish in Naples. The army was commanded by Louis de la Trémoille, but after he fell ill Gonzaga took command of the army. He soon grew tired of his new role, and resigned on the grounds of illness late in the autumn of 1503. A few weeks later Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba (El Gran Capitán) won his great victory on the Garigliano (28-29 December 1503), shattering the French position in Naples.

In May 1505 Machiavelli came to Mantua to offer Gonzaga the post of captain-general of the armies of the Republic of Florence. His mission was unsuccessful, largely because Florence couldn’t match the pay offered by Venice, but it did show the high regard in which Gonzaga was held at the time. I

In 1506 he entered the service of Pope Julius II, who was busy re-conquering lost parts of the Papal States. In October he was appointed lieutenant-general of the Papal armies, just before the conquest of Bologne.

In 1507 Louis XII returned to Italy to put down a revolt in Genoa. Gonzaga joined the French army and took part in the resulting siege of Genoa, where he enhanced his reputation.

In 1508 Pope Julius II formed the League of Cambrai, aimed at reducing the power of Venice. Gonzaga joined the league and the resulting War of the League of Cambrai saw the Venetians suffer a major defeat at Agnadello (14 May 1509). 

On 17 July 1509 Gonzaga was captured by the Venetians while leading troops to join the Imperial forces about to besiege Padua (August-September 1509). He was held prisoner in Venice until his wife was able to convince Pope Julius II to intervene. He was released in July 1510, while his ten-year-old son Federico was sent to Rome as a hostage (where he was treated very well by the Pope). After his release Gonzaga was hostile towards Venice for the rest of his life, and turned down a number of offers of command of their army.

Francesco died on the evening of 29 March 1519. He was succeeded by his son Federico, long since released from Roman captivity.