DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42861#0139
GIOVANNI DEI MEDICI
105
ended by begging her father the Marquis for a dole
on this happy occasion. Isabella herself however did
not conceal her disappointment at the sex of the
child, as we learn from the letter which she wrote
to her sister on New Year’s Day. "You will have
heard that I have a daughter and that both she and
I are doing well, although I am sorry not to have
a son. But since this is the will of God, she will be
dear to me.”1 The child received the names of
Leonora Violante Maria, and Lodovico Sforza, his
wife Beatrice, the Doge of Venice, and Lorenzo di
Pierfrancesco dei Medici were among the sponsors.
None of these illustrious personages, however, were
able to be present at the christening, but Lorenzo
dei Medici wrote a courteous letter to the Marquis,
thanking him for the honour which he had paid him
and congratulating him and the Marchesa on the
happy event. “ I hope,” he adds, “ that this new-
born daughter may grow up to be a great joy to
you, and that God will give you sons in future.”
Since he was unfortunately too unwell to attend the
christening, he promised to send his brother, Giovanni
dei Medici, to take his place. This prince, who
soon afterwards became the third husband of Cate-
rina Sforza, the famous Madonna of Forli, visited
Mantua on the 2nd of March, and was entertained
by Isabella, as we learn from the following note to
her absent lord :—
“ The Magnificent Giovanni dei Medici arrived
this morning in time for dinner. I have given him
rooms in the Corte and sent Giovanni Pietro Gonzaga
and Lodovico Uberti to wait on him. After dinner
he paid me a visit, and I entertained him and showed
1 Luzio e Renier, Mantova e Urbino, p. 69.
105
ended by begging her father the Marquis for a dole
on this happy occasion. Isabella herself however did
not conceal her disappointment at the sex of the
child, as we learn from the letter which she wrote
to her sister on New Year’s Day. "You will have
heard that I have a daughter and that both she and
I are doing well, although I am sorry not to have
a son. But since this is the will of God, she will be
dear to me.”1 The child received the names of
Leonora Violante Maria, and Lodovico Sforza, his
wife Beatrice, the Doge of Venice, and Lorenzo di
Pierfrancesco dei Medici were among the sponsors.
None of these illustrious personages, however, were
able to be present at the christening, but Lorenzo
dei Medici wrote a courteous letter to the Marquis,
thanking him for the honour which he had paid him
and congratulating him and the Marchesa on the
happy event. “ I hope,” he adds, “ that this new-
born daughter may grow up to be a great joy to
you, and that God will give you sons in future.”
Since he was unfortunately too unwell to attend the
christening, he promised to send his brother, Giovanni
dei Medici, to take his place. This prince, who
soon afterwards became the third husband of Cate-
rina Sforza, the famous Madonna of Forli, visited
Mantua on the 2nd of March, and was entertained
by Isabella, as we learn from the following note to
her absent lord :—
“ The Magnificent Giovanni dei Medici arrived
this morning in time for dinner. I have given him
rooms in the Corte and sent Giovanni Pietro Gonzaga
and Lodovico Uberti to wait on him. After dinner
he paid me a visit, and I entertained him and showed
1 Luzio e Renier, Mantova e Urbino, p. 69.