A New Take on a Renaissance Woman

V E R O N I C A   F R A N C O  (1546 - 1591)

           

Veronica Franco was one of very few women in the renaissance who was able to capitalize on both her academic ability and her sexual prowess. Similar to Christine de Pizan her talents weren’t discovered until she was forced to make a living to support herself and her child after separating from her husbands (It very typical of that time for women to walk away from a marriage with nothing). With limited options for money, she followed in her mom’s footsteps and became a courtesan, because it was the only thing she knew what to do. A courtesan is basically a classy prostitute who only sleeps with rich powerful men, some of her more famous clients where King Henry III of France and Domenico Venier who was a wealthy poet and literary advisor who’s salon Veronica eventually joined. (McNeill)

As a child her mother took advantage of her brothers private tutor and made Veronica take the lessons as well. She was an above average student. This allowed her to participate and contribute into discussion and also edit analogies at the Salon.  (McNeill)  She later published her first collection of poems called Terze Rime. What made Veronica popular was talking explicitly and openly about sex and her experiences as a courtesan.  “Franco is erotic, even sexually explicit. From her first poem, she celebrates her sexual expertise as a courtesan and promises to satisfy her interlocutor’s desires.” (Rosenthal) She also portrays women in a different light going against their traditional roles but portraying them as more powerful, and encourages them to take advantage of their sexuality. However he fame and success was cut short due to a plague that hit Venice for two years. She was forced to leave the city. When she returned however, she had nothing, the plague took her brother and mother along with in my opinion her biggest loss her Library, which was said to have been one of the best private collections in Europe.  However she got back on her feet and in 1850 published a collection of letters to her clients called Lettere Famillari.  These letters demonstrate great value because they discuss the daily routine of courtesans along with Veronica’s philosophical and moral views. (McNeill)

            

Sadly, Veronica Franco’s life ended in tragedy. Due to her sons tutor becoming obscenely jealous of her success he turned her into the Inquisition charging her with witchcraft.  On this charge she lost several clients had her reputation destroyed and furthermore lost all of her wealth. She was forced to live in poverty amongst “lower – class whores.” (McNeill)  Veronica died to years later at the very young age of 45 in 1591. I think she was the Renaissance version of Anna Nicole Smith, except less trashy and with a very admirable intellect. She lived a roller coaster of a life with several high and lows, cherishing every moment of her 15 minutes of fame.

Sources:

http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/efts/IWW/BIOS/A0017.html - Rosenthall 

http://maggiemcneill.wordpress.com/2011/11/14/veronica-franco/ - McNeill 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/VeronicaFranco.jpg/220px-VeronicaFranco.jpg (photo)