About Isabella d 'Este

The d'Estes, magnificent patrons of the arts, ruled the little town of Este in the Euganean Hills near Padua (1240-1597) and Modena (1288-1796). Late in the twelfth century Marquis Obizzo d'Este (d. 1193) seized Ferrara, which lies in the Po valley, thirty-five miles from the Adriatic and fifty-five miles southwest of Venice. Early in the thirteenth century his son, Marquis, Azzolino d'Este (1205-1264), and his heirs were solemnly elected perpetual lords of the city by the people of Ferrara.

Isabella d'Este (1474-1539) was born to Ercole d'Este (1431-1505) and Eleonora of Aragon. Though not a learned man, (Ercole knew little or no Latin), he assembled a great library and vigorously supported religion and the arts and sciences, especially vocal music and the theatre. Several of his children, most notably, Isabella, carried this tradition into the 16th Century.

Isabella enjoyed the benefits of a classical education in one of Italy's most distinguished courts. At the age of 16, she married the military hero and Prince of Mantua, Francesco Gonzaga.

She was recognized as an exceptionally astute and cultivated woman, clearly the equal of her husband both intellectually and socially. She brought energy, intelligence and judgment to her patronage of literature, music, and the visual arts, and her wealth and taste enabled her to work with some of the most prominent artists of that age. During her husband's frequent absences, Isabella governed Mantua on her own and after Franceso's death, she became Chief of State. At the age of 64, Isabella d'Este Gonzaga, "first lady of the world" died. Although there were other learned, talented, and courageous women in Renaissance Italy, none were considered to be so versatile, so dominating or so universally admired.