“PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG
WOMAN IN PROFILE”
(1475). GEMALDEGALERIE,
STAATLICHE MUSEEN, BERLINDuring her short life, Simonetta Cattaneo was
considered one of the most beautiful women in
Renaissance Florence. Born in 1453 in Genoa, at
age 15 she wed Marco Vespucci and moved to
Florence. Her short life ended in her early 20s
in 1475 or 1476, but the fame of her beauty long
outlived her. Lorenzo the Magnificent, co-ruler
of Florence at the time, dedicated a sonnet to
her on the day of her death. To the Medici, Sim-
onetta’s face perfectly accorded with their no-
tions of ideal beauty. Soon after she died, the
poet Poliziano wrote of how Lorenzo’s brother,
Giuliano de’ Medici, had dedicated his victory
in a jousting tournament to Simonetta a year
before she died (the poet was careful to stress
the relationship was entirely platonic). Although
there is no documentary evidence that Botticelli
painted female figures with her in mind, a long-
standing tradition has identified Simonetta’s
physiognomy in several of his best-known works,
including “Primavera” and “Birth of Venus.”
FA MILIAR FACE
BPK/SCALA FLORENCE