Vespucci Simonetta: photo, biography, cause of death. Portrait of Simonetta Vespucci

The incomparable and the Simonetta the Unparalleled - this is the name of the first beauty of the Renaissance.

Birth of the Muses

Simonetta Vespucci, whose biography is bright and multifaceted, is of interest to art fans today. Became a muse for great artists, this girl has forever entered the history of the Renaissance. Born in the middle of the 15th century, a beauty at the age of sixteen was married to a relative of the famous discoverer Amerigo Vespucci - Marco. So, nee Simonetta Cattaneo began to be called Vespucci Simonetta. Historical chronicles say that before her marriage, the future muse of many Italian artists saw a lot of grief. Together with her family she was in exile, but after marriage, the girl's life changed.

The beginning of a new life

Together with her husband Vespucci Simoneta moved to his hometown of Florence, in honor of their arrival, even a luxurious feast was organized in the royal palace. According to contemporaries, Vespucci Simonetta had a meek and sweet character, she was not a scandalous person and never gave her husband reasons for jealousy. She even managed to avoid such a widespread phenomenon at all times, as the envy of court ladies. The lovely and charming character of Simonetta simply did not give them any reason to be angry with her. This, in principle, was quite strange, since all the noble men of that time just went crazy from the incredible beauty of the girl.

Famous fans

Her favor was sought by many high-ranking officials, including the ruler of the city of Lorenzo the Magnificent and his younger brother. Because of this hobby, there was even a rather scandalous episode, during which the image of Simonetta Vespucci was depicted on the symbolism of Giuliano Medici, who chose her as the lady of her heart. On the flag, Simonetta was represented in the form of Athena Pallada. In one hand she held the head of the Gorgon Medusa, and in the second she had a shield and a sword. By the way, this banner also belonged to the famous Sandro di Boticelli, but unfortunately it has not survived to the present day. Having won the tournament, Giuliano announced to Simonetta the tournament's queen. This event was marked by the appearance of a poem, published from the pen of the court poet Poliziano. Quite a strong publicity for the romantic relationship Simonetta Vespucci and the Young Prince - the so-called Giuliano. This relationship was known to the whole court.

Sudden death

The young beauty did not live long after the tournament. Simonetta Vespucci, whose cause of death was in the infestation with tuberculosis, left a very young life. Beauty left the world at the age of twenty-three. It was a strange coincidence that on that very day, April 26, exactly one year after the death of Simonetta, her admirer, the beautiful Giuliano, was killed.

The deepest concern for the health of the girl on the part of the nobility is shown by the correspondence of her father-in-law with Lorenzo the Magnificent. The latter was very worried about her health. Vespucci Simonetta was under the supervision of a doctor sent by Lorenzo, one of the best at the time. However, even the eminent Aesculapius could not pull the girl out of the deadly shackles.

There were no less explanations about the beauty's funeral. Simonetta Vespucci, whose cause of death was known to everyone, was carried from house to crypt in an open coffin. However, despite the fact that her death came from consumption, even posthumously she struck everyone with her beauty. At the sight of her many people remembered the saying of the great Petrarch: "Death on this beautiful face is beautiful ...".

Vespucci Simonetta is buried in the family chapel in Florence, her husband, married for the second time, called the son named the ardent admirer of his wife - Giuliano.

Eternal life in great canvases

Despite this early departure from life, she managed to leave vivid memories of herself. What is only worth the works of Botticelli - Simonetta Vespucci became his muse for many years. The famous artist was a member of Vespucci's house, they say that from the moment when the artist first saw Simonetta, all the Venus and Madonna painted by the brush of the great artist had her face. It should be noted that Vespucci Simonetta never posed Botticelli. All the pictures he wrote from memory, many of them appeared after the death of the beauty. It was her face that was forever imprinted in the memory of genius, becoming the embodiment of ideal beauty. Very strange is the fact that in the history there is not a single portrait of Simonetta Vespucci written from life. It is also unknown whether he existed at all. A very surprising circumstance, given that the unsurpassed beauty of Simonetta so attracted the views of contemporaries. Some paintings are associated with the girl, but they appeared years after her death and undoubtedly bear the idealizing fantasy of the authors. For example, on the canvas by Piero de Cosimo she depicted her in the guise of Cleopatra. The painting "Portrait of a Young Woman" is also controversial. Some critics consider him the creation of Botticelli, others attribute the authorship of Jacopo del Sellao. Cloth, something similar to the previously described "Cleopatra, pretends to be a portrait of Simonetta, but this fact is completely unconfirmed.

Unearthly beauty or myth?

Now it is impossible to say unequivocally how beautiful Simonetta Vespucci really was. Some art historians attribute to it an excessively large nose and an outstanding belly. However, it was really so, we do not already know, and the image of Simonetta, left to us by great artists, presents an unusually sweet and tender girl with a sad glance - the Beautiful Simonetta Vespucci.