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Brooke9/7
The portrait above is of Simonetta Vespucci by Sandro Botticelli - one of my favorite Italian Renaissance artists. It is known as "Ideal beauty" though likely a close rendition of Mrs. Vespucci.  Born Simonetta Cattaneo in 1453 (Genoa) she reputedly served as Botticelli's muse - if not his actual model - for several classically and biblically-themed works. Simonetta was widely considered the lovliest woman in all of Florence, and appears to be the model for Botticelli's "Birth of Venus." Although married to a prominent nobleman, famously known as La Bellezza Fiorentina and the Star of Genoa, she may have been mistress (there is no actual evidence) to Giuliano di Piero de Medici (brother of Il Magnifico Lorenzo de Medici).  Giuliano fathered the illegitimate Giulio de Medici by his acknowledged mistress Fioretta Gorini. Born a month after the death of his father (Giuliano was imurdered by rival nobles in the Pazzi Conspiracy - an attempt to oust the Medici from Florence), Giulio was eventually legitimized and later became a cardinal under the first Medici pope, his cousin and son of Lorenzo, Giovanni de Medici (Leo X).Leo X was the pontiff who was busy 'enjoying the papacy' when Martin Luther (that spunky monk) nailed his 95 Theses on the church door at Wittenberg. Giulio was later elected to the throne of St. Peter as Pope Clement VII. Clement VII, as we all know, was the pontiff held hostage by Charles V's mercenary soldiers after the Sack of Rome (1527). He is widely credited as being a learned, mild man but was known to be indecisive in his leadership style. Gotta love my rascally Medici Popes! My favorite Renaissance pope was Giuliano della Rovere aka Julius II - a passionate patron of the arts and a butt-kicking warrior pope. ___________________________________________________________________ Hello, my name is Brooke  Occupation: Civil Servant (Lady in Waiting to the Duchess of Urbino in a past life ;-) Astrological sign: Virgo Chinese Sign: Year of the Snake Lucky Number: 19 Superpowers: Eye for detail and developing ability to identify some distinguishing characteristics of renaissance and mannerist portraiture, US-made post-1985 automobiles, and many zone 2-5 urban deciduous trees in the US (trunk, bark, crown and leaves). I joined this wiki because: The Medieval, Early Modern and Renaissance periods are so interesting. I love reading historical interpretations, primary sources, and watching shows about these periods. I LOVE HENRY CAVILL and JRM! I'm a fan of the show, of course! INTERESTS: History: especially Medieval Europe, the Renaissance, the Reformation, and all Early Modern Humanties, along with reniassance, mannerist and baroque art and architecture, baroque and classical music, Anthropology, Archaeology, Ethnography, 1960s US Counterculture History, global political-social revolutions and indigenous uprisings against colonial rule, watching period dramas, going camping, hiking, mountain biking, reading, happy hour with my friends, yard work, museums, rare but culture-focused travel, and hanging out with my kids and husband. I love my city of Denver, Colorado - nicknamed "the Mile High City" and historically, "Queen City of the Plains."  FAVORITE BOOKS: Pride and Prejudice, The Razor's Edge, Tom Jones, Monkey Wrench Gang, Level Four: Virus Hunters of the CDC BOOK(S) I AM CURRENTLY READING: The Agony and the Ecstacy (Irving Stone), The Book of the Courtier (Castiglione), Wars of the Roses (Weir). FAVORITE MOVIES: Remains of the Day, And the Band Played On, Pride and Prejudice (with Colin Firth) Favorite TV shows: The Tudors, House Hunters, No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain, Man V. Food. My Heroes: Unknown volunteers deep in the interiors building infrastructure to better the lives of those living in abject poverty. DEDICATED, KNOWLEDGEABLE, INSPIRING SCHOOL TEACHERS. My dream job(s): 1) MOVIE STAR style traveling art history professor/ portraiture specialist with several published treatises about my sensational discoveries and authentications of mystery portraits of famous historical figures  (I "know" La Bella Principessa is a Sforza, I just know it!) ;-)2) FASHIONISTA style Curator of Interpretive Services and/or Manager of Collections at a palace/castle/historically relevant house museum or Art Museum 3) EDUCATOR style Director of the Education Department at a museum. tie with 4) Textbook writer - any and all college level history subjects What else you should know about me: I am neither young nor old...but most days I try to behave old while feeling young! Wink Wink -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SAY HELLO! Leave me a comment below, or send me a private message or compliment!
Latest page update: Mar 9 2010, 5:28 PM EST
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