#lucrezia tornabuoni

queensarahparish:

SARAH PARISHasLucrezia Tornabuoni |Medici2.05

catherinedemedici:

܀ history meme ܀ nine women:Lucrezia Tornabuoni (de Medici) {22 June 1425 - 28 March 1482} (8/9)

A keen political thinker, an incredibly devout Christian and avid benefactor of the arts, Lucrezia Tornabuoni de Medici was one of the most accomplished women of her time. Her education put her in contact with the work and thoughts of the humanist Leonardo Bruni and the Classics meant that she was encouraged to learn more than just a standard education for women in her position. Her literary skill would develop further so that she wrote her own sonnets and Sacred Narratives which demonstrates a wide range of literary influence.

As the wife of Piero, son of Cosimo I, she was the mother of Lorenzo “the Magnificent” (and three other children) and ancestor to many of the other Medici members. She brought the Medici family, by her own status, into the elite circle of society and expanded their influence outside of Florence with arranging the marriages of some of her children with other Italian courts. After Piero’s death, Lucrezia maintained her own estates and proved to be economically successful with her ventures as well as having an active role in the political sphere.

Lorenzo’s take over as head of the family heightened Lucrezia’s own standing. Confidant and advisor, Lucrezia was ever-present in her son’s life and even after Lorenzo’s marriage to Clarice Orsini, this position of hers did not diminish. She had a great deal of affection for many of her grandchildren and was well respected by not only her family but the wider public. Her death in 1482 was a great loss to those who knew her and in particular to her son who had valued his mother’s good judgement above all others.