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Cecilia Gallerani
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cecilia Gallerani (1473-1536) was one of the lovers of Ludovico Sforza, Il Moro. She was the subject of Leonardo da Vinci's painting "The Lady with an Ermine"(1485). While posing for the painting, she came to appreciate Leonardo and came to understand him. Cecilia invited Leonardo to meetings in which scholars and the intellectuals of Milan, discussed philosophy and other subjects. Cecilia herself presided over these discussions.
Cecilia was a very gifted person who spoke Latin fluently, sang beautifully, was a gifted musician, and wrote poetry. Even after Ludovico married Beatrice d'Este, Cecilia continued to keep her apartments in Ludovico's castle. Cecilia had a son, Cesare, with Ludovico il Moro.
When Beatrice d'Este knew about her, Ludovico, Il Moro, had to invite her to leave the Porta Giovia's castle, seat of ducal court. She was given the Carmagnola Palace in 1492, when she married Ludovico di Brambilla, count Bergamino. After death of both husband and son (1514-1515), she retire herself to San Giovanni in Croce, a castle near Cremona. Bandello says she was a kind of patronesse of arts. According to others, hers was the first salon of Europe.
See: Daniella Pizzigalli, "La donna con l'ermellino" (Italy, BUR, 2003).
