Lucrezia Borgia
1480 - 1519
Source 1: Victor Hugo 1833 Lucrezia Borgia (A play)
"Who, actually, is Lucrezia Borgia? Take the most hideous, the most repulsive, the most complete moral deformity; place it where it
fits best — in the heart of a woman whose physical beauty and royal grandeur will make the crime stand out all the more strikingly;
then add to all that moral deformity the purest feeling a woman can have, that of a mother... Inside our monster put a mother and
the monster will interest us and make us weep. And this creature that filled us with fear will inspire pity; that deformed soul will be
almost beautiful in our eyes..."
Source 2: Alexander Dumas 1839 Crimes Celebres
Indeed, although Alexander VI had repudiated the abuses of nepotism, he understood very well the part that was to be played for
his benefit by his sons and his daughter; for he knew he could always count on Lucrezia... In these matters the sister was quite
worthy of her brother. Lucrezia was wanton in imagination, godless by nature, ambitious and designing: she had a craving for
pleasure, admiration, honours, money, jewels, gorgeous stuffs, and magnificent mansions. A true Spaniard beneath her golden
tresses, she carried the head of a Raphael Madonna, and concealed the heart of a Messalina. Lucrezia and Caesar were
accordingly the best beloved of his heart, and the three composed that diabolical trio which for eleven years occupied the pontifical
throne, like a mocking parody of the heavenly Trinity.
Source 3: Chevalier de Bayard 1510
Chevalier de Bayard was a French knight who stayed with Lucrezia and her husband for 8 months.
She is a pearl in this world. I dare say that either in her time, nor for many years before, has there been such a glorious princess,
for she is beautiful and good, gentle and amiable to everyone. And nothing is more certain than this: that though her husband is a
skillful and brave prince, the gracious princess has been a great service to him.
Source 4:
womenshistory.about.com/od/medievalitalianwomen/a/Lucrezia-Borgia.htm
Recent studies have shown that during her years in Ferrara, Lucrezia was a shrewd businesswoman, building up her own fortune
quite successfully. She used some of her wealth to build hospitals and convents, winning the respect of her subjects. She
sometimes inspected her husband's property for him. She invested in marshy land, then drained it and recovered it for agricultural
use.
Source 5:
Pinturicchio's alleged image of Lucrezia as Saint Catherine of Alexandria disputing with the philosophers before Emperor
Maximian, in the Borgia apartments of the Vatican.
This resource was prepared by Anne Gripton, St. Pius X College, Chatswood. Copyright ©of this resource is owned by AISNSW.
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Source 6: Niccolo Cagnoo of Padua (1501)
She is of middle height and graceful in form. Her face is rather long, the nose well cut, hair golden, eyes of no special colour. Her
mouth is rather large, the teeth brilliantly white, her heck is slender and fair. She is always glad and smiling.
Source 7: Ferdinand Gregorovius (1904) Lucretia Borgia
Gregorovius was a German author who specialised in Italian history
Thus Lucrezia, when only a child eleven years of age, found her hand and life happiness subjected to the will of another, and from
that time she was no longer the shaper of her own destiny. This was the usual fate of the daughters of the great houses, and even
of the lesser ones.
Source 8: Giovanni Gonzago 1519
A letter to his nephew, the Marquise Frederico on Lucrezia’s death
His Excellency the Duke accompanied his illustrious wife’s body to the grave. She is buried in the Convent of the Sisters of Corpus
Christi in the same vault where repose the remains of his mother. Her death has caused the greatest grief throughout the entire
city, and his majesty displays the most profound sorrow. Great things are reported about her life, and it is said that she has worn
the cilice* for about ten years, and has gone to confession daily during the last two years and has received the communion three or
four times every month.
* Cilice – a shirt made of rough cloth worn under clothes to irritate the skin as a form of penance
Source 9: Dosso Dossi Lucrezia Borgia, Duchess of Ferrara c.1518 National Gallery of Victoria
This is the only known official portrait of Lucrezia. Note the date.
1. Look at Sources 1 & 2. Both were French writers living 300 years after Lucrezia Borgia. Why do you think they are so negative
about her? Consider that both are professional writers.
2. Why does the Chevalier de Bayard (Source 3) mention Lucrezia’s husband? How reliable do you think this source is?
3. What is the view presented in Source 4? Look at the name of the website, how does that affect its reliability?
4. Source 5 is allegedly a picture of Lucrezia Borgia as a saint. What evidence is there to suggest that it is her? Why might
Lucrezia be shown as Catherine of Alexandria?
5. Is Source 6 a negative or positive interpretation? What words from the source support this?
6. What different view is presented of Lucrezia in Source 7? Do you agree? Why/Why not?
7. What are three clues in Source 8 that tell us that Lucrezia was considered “good”?
8. Even though she was the daughter of a famous Pope, why do you think there is only 1 surviving official portrait of her? How can
we be sure it is of her?
This resource was prepared by Anne Gripton, St. Pius X College, Chatswood. Copyright ©of this resource is owned by AISNSW.
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