Dates: May 18, 1474 – February 13, 1539
Occupation: Marchioness (Marchessa) of Mantua, ruler, art collector and patron; actively involved in political intrigues among the interlocked nobles of Europe; successful collector of antiquities; also supported convents and monasteries, founded a girls' school in Mantua
Known for: role as patron of Renaissance learning, arts and literature;
Also known as: Isabel; First Lady of the Renaissance and First Lady of the World
Background, Family:
- Mother: Eleonora of Aragon, also known as Leonora of Naples, daughter of Ferdinand I of Naples and Isabel de Claremont
- Father: Ercole I d'Este, Marquis of Ferrara
- Siblings:
- Isabella, born 1474
- Beatrice d'Este, June 29, 1475 – January 2, 1497
- Alfonso, born 1476
- Ferrante, born 1477
- Ippolitto, born 1479
- Sigismondo, born 1480
Marriage, Children:
- husband: Marquis Francesco Gonzaga of Mantua (1466-1519) (married February 15, 1490; military leader and marquis)
- children:
- Leonora Violante Maria (December 31, 1493/1494 - 1570), married Francesco della Rovere, Duke of Urbino
- daughter (1496-1496)
- Federico (1500-1540), became first Duke of Mantua
- Livia (1501-1508)
- Ippolita (1503-1570), nun
- Ercole (1505-1563), bishop then cardinal; once considered a likely candidate for Pope in 1559 though he was not selected
- Ferrante (1507-1557), soldier for emperor Charles V, commander of Imperial army in Italy in 1537, served as Viceroy of Sicily 1535-1546 and governor of Milan 1546-1554; married Isabella di Capua in 1534; in modern-day legend, he is supposedly one of the Grand Masters of the Priory of Sion
- Livia (1508-?), nun
- Pietro (?)
More About Isabella d'Este:
Isabella d'Este's life is known in some detail because of voluminous correspondence by her and others in her circle. The correspondence provides insight not only into the art world of the Renaissance, but into the unique role this woman played. More than two thousand of her letters survive.
Isabella d'Este was born into the Ferraro family, rulers of Ferra, Italy. She may have been named for her relative, Queen Isabella of Spain. She was the eldest in her large family, and by accounts of the time, her parents' favorite.
Her parents educated their daughters and sons equally. Isabella and her sister Beatrice both studied Latin and Greek, Roman history, singing, playing instruments (especially the lute), astrology, and dancing. Their father provided some of the leading teachers of the day for his daughters and sons. Isabella was accomplished enough in understanding politics to debate with ambassadors when she was sixteen.
When Isabella d'Este was six, she was betrothed to the future fourth Marquis of Mantua, Francesco Gonzaga (1466 - 1519), and met him the next year. They were married on February 15, 1490. He was a military hero, more interested in sports and horses than in arts and literature, though he was a generous patron of the arts. Isabella continued her studying after marriage, even sending home for her Latin books. Her sister, Beatrice, married the Duke of Milan, and the sisters visited each other often.
Isabella d'Este was also close to Elisabetta Gonzaga, her sister-in-law, and wife of Guidobaldo de Montefeltre, duke of Urbino.
Isabella d'Este was described as a beauty, with dark eyes and golden hair. She was famous for her fashion sense -- her style was copied by noble women throughout Europe. Her portrait was painted twice by Titian -- when she was 60 he risked his reputation by painting from an image of her when she was 25 -- and also by Leonardo da Vinci, Mantegna, Rubens and others.
Isabella, and less actively her husband, supported many of the Renaissance's painters, writers, poets, and musicians. Artists with whom Isabella d'Este is associated include Perugino, Battista Spagnoli, Raphael, Andrea Mantegna, Castiglione and Bandello. Also part of the court circle were writers including Ariosto and Baldassare Castiglione, architect Giulio Romano, and musicians Bartolomeo Tromboncino and Marchetto Cara.
