When the Pre-Raphaelite Frederic Lord Leighton painted Pavonia an art critic wrote: ‘Her proud gaze is worthy of a Lucretia Borgia.’ Whether Lord Leighton’s peacock woman was actually intended to to represent a societal lady like the notorious Italian aristocrat Lucretia Borgia remains a matter of controversy among experts.
Lucrezia Borgia (18 April 1480 – 24 June 1519) was by any account a wicked woman. The illegitimate daughter of Rodrigo Borgia, better known as Pope Alexander VI (yes you read that right. Her brothers included Cesare Borgia,(with whom it is alleged she had an incestuous relationship) Giovanni Borgia, and Gioffre Borgia.
Lucrezia's family later came to epitomize the ruthless Machiavellian politics and sexual corruption alleged to be characteristic of the Renaissance Papacy. Lucrezia was cast as a femme fatale, a role she has been portrayed as in many artworks, novels, and films. Certainly she is remembered today as being rather adept with poisons.
However whichever way you look at this painting, it is a tribute to female beauty. In the context of Pearls Week, it is revealing that if you try imagining this painting with and without the pearls you can readily see the true impact of this most beautiful of all jewellery.
5 comments:
Sorry I've not been on in ages, simply loving pearls week. x
I tried as you suggested to imagine this woman with and without pearls. I do this with a lot of woman though given the versatility of the jewelry.
Lucrezia was not a bad girl - just misunderstood! A legend has grown around her that suggests she was bad but she only poisoned people she didn't like. What's wrong with that?
Pearls? not at this time of the morning or i'd never finish dressing :-)
Seems reasonable to me Monica.
Must get my pearls out.
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