Lucrezia Tornabuoni, wife, poet, business woman and patron of the arts...!
Lucrezia Tornabuoni, daughter of Francesco Tornabuoni, and wife to Piero di Cosimo de' Medici, son of the illustrious Cosimo de' Medici, belonged to Florence’s most powerful families. Her marriage further amplified her influence during her husband's rule and that of her son, Lorenzo the Magnificent.
A woman of exceptional education, Lucrezia was fluent in Latin and Greek. She entered her marriage with substantial property holdings, cleverly managing these assets beyond Florence's jurisdiction, maintaining her financial independence and demonstrating a sharp intellect. When Piero, bedridden by poor health, assumed control of Florence in 1464, their bedroom transformed into a noble court. Lucrezia deftly mediated disputes and conveyed requests, emerging as a central figure in Florentine politics. Known as "a font of charity," she gained popular reverence, wielding patronal politics to the Medici’s advantage.
After Piero’s death in 1469, Lucrezia masterfully managed the extensive Medici estates. By 1480, she had expanded the family's holdings, acquiring a palazzo, a farm in Pisa, several commercial properties, a house in Florence, and a spa at Bagna a Morba. She personally supervised the spa's renovation, modernizing it with a hydraulic system for baths and showers, transforming it into a fashionable resort.
Her abundant correspondence reveals a patron of subtle political influence, advocating for women, the humble, and the religious. Lucrezia penned sonnets, plays, religious poems, and sacred narratives, proving her literary prowess. A shrewd businesswoman and generous patron of the arts and religious institutions, she earned the epithet "Queen Mother of Florence." Upon her death, Lorenzo the Magnificent mourned deeply, stating, “I have lost not only a mother, but the only person I could turn to in many vexations and who aided me in many troubles ... an irreplaceable refuge.”
Lucrezia Tornabuoni epitomized the capability of women to participate fully in medieval social, financial, political, and cultural life. She was the grandmother of two popes and the great-great-grandmother of Catherine de' Medici, Queen of France. Her legacy is a testament to the power and grace with which she navigated her world.
AmandineG