Isabella de Luna | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Died | 1564 |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Occupation | Courtesan |
Isabella de Luna (died 1564) was an Italian (originally Spanish) courtesan of Renaissance-era Rome. She was known as amusing company, [1] having a kind heart but also a foul tongue. [2] She was an accomplished musician. [3] Amongst her patrons were members of the nobility and cardinals.
Isabella was originally from Granada in Spain. [4] She followed a soldier in the Imperial army of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, where she prostituted herself as a camp follower [5] and was present at the Conquest of Tunis in 1535. [4] [6] Around 1536 [7] she eventually settled in Rome, [4] where she acquired a house in 1544 [8] and became known as the most famous high class courtesan, or cortigiana onesta, of her generation. [9]
As with all courtesans of her class, she had a main client, in her case Roberto Strozzi. [8] Other clients included Cardinal Carafa, the Marquis de Montebello, [10] Cardinal Farnese [11] and author Matteo Bandello. [12] According to Pierre Brantome, she was herself a client of one of her colleagues, Pandora, reputed to be one of the most beautiful in Rome, [13] whom she paid for sexual services. [14] A famous incident took place at a party, where Rocco Biancalana lost a bet to her after he had promised to make her blush, but in which she instead won the bet.
In 1555 de Luna was accused of holding a child captive in her house. Before being arrested she fled. She was captured in Rimini whilst on her way to Venice and returned to Rome's Castel Sant'Angelo to await trial. [15] Two years later, in 1557 she was a witness at the trial of Roman nobleman Pompeo Giustini. [15]
During an official crackdown on morality, de Luna and Pandora were arrested and the Pope threatened to burn them at the stake. [10] On another occasion she faced imprisonment for debt but managed to pay the merchant she owed the money before she was incarcerated. [16] However, as she had pretended to use the summons for toilet-paper and appeared before the judge drunk, she was sentenced to a public lashing of 50 strokes on her bare buttocks. [17] [18]
Isabella de Luna was portrayed in two contemporary novels by Matteo Bandello. [19] One of which was Lives of Gallant Ladies. [20]
Isabella de Luna rome.