Lucrezia Tornabuoni, the wife of Piero de' Medici, as widow
" ... she [Lucrezia Tornabuoni] belonged to a family who were formerly nobles of the name of Tornaquinci, but had changed their name and arms about two hundred years before in order to become ordinary citizens and eligible for the Signoria and who were notable patrons of Art ... She was learned, a poetess, and a deeply religious woman. She distinguished herself not only as a noted patroness of learning, but also by her own writings, and Crescembeni is of opinion that she 'excelled the greater part of, not to say all, the poets of her time.' Her chief writings were hymns and translations of Holy Scriptures in verse ... Dr Pastor ... couples her with Cecilia Gonzaga, Isotta Nogarola, Cassandra Fedele, and Antonia Pulci in detailing the most notable ladies of the time who came forth from the seclusion in which women had hitherto shut themselves up, and won for themselves renown in literature and science." (in: G. F. Young, The Medici, Vol. 1, London 1930, p. 187)
Lucrezia Tornabuoni
Lucrezia Tornabuoni
Lucrezia Tornabuoni (on the right side) as Saint Anne (after giving birth to the Virgin) with her granddaughters Maddalena, Lucrezia (holding the baby Virgin, who shows the facial features of Contessina) and Luigia (from the left to the right) [large image]
Lucrezia Tornabuoni
After her death, her son Lorenzo de' Medici said: "I have lost not only my mother, but my one refuge from many of my troubles, a comfort in my labours, and one who saved me from many of those labours." (in: G. F. Young, The Medici, Vol. 1, London 1930, p. 260)