This print depicts a supposedly famous Venetian courtesan of the time, dressed as a fine lady in the Venetian fashion.
She has her hair set in the peculiar Venetian style of a crescent moon, and she wears a lavish dress of brocade, adorned with lace and pearls.
In her hands, she holds a small dog, which was, according to the text, a characteristic of that particular woman.
Source: Habiti delle Donne Venetiane, published by Giacomo Franco, c. 1610, in Venice.
Famous courtesan
BEYOND the four types of women; that is, Noblewomen, and the wives of Citizens, Merchants, & Craftsmen, there are also Courtesans, or we may say prostitutes of some wealth; who dress very superbly as they please, except that they are not allowed to go to sacred places unless they go with their face covered; except, however, if they were travelling by gondola; otherwise they fall under the penalties of the law. The present figure is of a Courtesan, or famous prostitute, who usually keeps small dogs of French breed, and in lasciviousness surpasses any other woman.
Original texts
Cortegiana famosa
OLTRE le quattro sorti di donne; cioè di Gentildonne, Cittadine, Mercantesse, & Artiste, vi sono ancora le Cortegiane, ò vogliamo dir meretrici di qualche ricchezza; lequali si vestono superbissimamente come lor pare, eccetto che non gli è permesso andar fuori di casa a luoghi sagri se non andranno col viso coperto; eccetto però se non andassero in gondola, altrimente cadono nelle pene delle leggi. La figura presente è di Cortegiana, ó meretrice famosa, che suol tener cagnolini di razza Francese, e nella lascivia superar qual si voglia altra donna.
Text from the 1878 edition
A celebrated courtisan
Besides the four classes, the wives of the Patricians, the Citizen-gentry, the Merchants, and the Members of the Guilds, already mentioned, there are still others which are distinguished by their splendid dress, namely the rich courtisans. These however dare not appear (except it be in Gondola) in sacred places or at church fetes otherwise than veiled, else they are severely punished. Our picture shows a famous and much admired courtisan whose habit it is to keep small dogs of french race.
Related articles
- Prostitution in Venice
- A catalogue of Venetian prostitutes
- Habiti d’huomeni et donne venetiane — Giacomo Franco
- Habiti delle Donne Venetiane (c.1610) — Giacomo Franco
Venetian Stories
Related sources
- Catalogue of all the principal and most honoured Courtesans of Venice (translated)
- Catalogo di tutte le principal et più honorate Cortigiane di Venetia (original)
- Meretrici — Lessico Veneto
- Carampane — Dizionario
- Carampane — Lessico Veneto
- Carampane — Curiosità Veneziane
Related images
- Cortegiana vestita da inverno — Courtesan dressed for winter — Habiti delle Donne Venetiane — 11
- Meretrici de’ luoghi publici — Prostitutes of public places — Habiti Antichi e Moderni — 146.a
- Meretrice — Prostitute — Grevembroch 3–158
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