Isabella de Luna

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Isabella de Luna (died 1564) was an Italian (originally Spanish) courtesan of Renaissance-era Rome. She was known as amusing company,[1] having a kind heart but also a foul tongue.[2] She was an accomplished musician.[3] Amongst her patrons were members of the nobility and cardinals.

Biography

Isabella was originally from Granada in Spain.[4] She followed a soldier in the Imperial army of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, where she prostituted herself as a camp follower[5] and was present at the Conquest of Tunis in 1535.[4][6] Around 1536[7] she eventually settled in Rome,[4] where she acquired a house in 1544[8] and became known as the most famous high class courtesan, or cortigiana onesta, of her generation.[9]

As with all courtesans of her class, she had a main client, in her case Roberto Strozzi.[8] Other clients included Cardinal Carafa, the Marquis de Montebello,[10] Cardinal Farnese[11] and author Matteo Bandello.[12] According to Pierre Brantome, she was herself a client of one of her colleagues, Pandora, reputed to be one of the most beautiful in Rome,[13] whom she paid for sexual services.[14] A famous incident took place at a party, where Rocco Biancalana lost a bet to her after he had promised to make her blush, but in which she instead won the bet.

Transgressions

In 1555 de Luna was accused of holding a child captive in her house. Before being arrested she fled. She was captured in Rimini whilst on her way to Venice and returned to Rome's Castel Sant'Angelo to await trial.[15] Two years later, in 1557 she was a witness at the trial of Roman nobleman Pompeo Giustini.[15]

During an official crackdown on morality, de Luna and Pandora were arrested and the Pope threatened to burn them at the stake.[10] On another occasion she faced imprisonment for debt but managed to pay the merchant she owed the money before she was incarcerated.[16] However, as she had pretended to use the summons for toilet-paper and appeared before the judge drunk, she was sentenced to a public lashing of 50 strokes on her bare buttocks.[17][18]

Legacy

Isabella de Luna was portrayed in two contemporary novels by Matteo Bandello.[19] One of which was Lives of Gallant Ladies.[20]

References

  1. 1.Burckhardt 1878, p. 206.
  2. 2.Burckhardt 1878, p. 166.
  3. 3.Keefer 1976, p. 41.
  4. 4.[4.2][4.3]Shemek 1998, p. 159.
  5. 5.Zafra 2014, pp. 487–504.
  6. 6.Constantine 2011, p. 148.
  7. 7.Masson1975, p. 133.
  8. 8.[8.2]Shemek 1998, p. 161.
  9. 9.Shemek 1998, pp. 159, 161.
  10. 10.[10.2]Dickinson1960, p. 148.
  11. 11.Eyewitness Travel Family Guide Rome 2015, p. 75.
  12. 12.Masson1975, p. 132.
  13. 13.Jacobus X 1904, p. 44.
  14. 14.Shemek 1998, pp. 160–161.
  15. 15.[15.2]Shemek 1998, p. 240.
  16. 16.Constantine 2011, pp. 149–151.
  17. 17.Constantine 2011, pp. 151–152.
  18. 18.Robin, Larsen & Levin 2007, p. 104.
  19. 19.Shemek 1998, pp. 166–168.
  20. 20.Faderman 2013, p. 213.