La Gioconda at the Palazzo Tornabuoni
Although she may be Florence's most famous daughter, Mona (Madame) Lisa Gherardini del Giocondo (1479-1542) is almost invisible in her hometown. After spending three years tracing her life, it was a thrill to bring Lisa back, not just to the città d'arte, but to one of its most beautiful settings: the Palazzo Tornabuoni.
Il palazzo was built for Giovanni Tornabuoni, the patriarch of one of Florence's leading families, in the fifteenth century. La madre (the mother) of Lorenzo il Magnifico was Lucrezia Tornabuoni, and the Tornabuoni, who commissioned Domenico Ghirlandaio's famous frescoes in la Cappella Tornabuoni (the Tornabuoni chapel) in Santa Maria Novella), were appassionati collezionisti (passionate collectors) of paintings, sculptures, rare objects and ancient texts. The first Italian opera, La favola di Dafne, with a libretto by Ottavio Rinuccini, was performed in the palazzo's beautiful Sala delle Muse in 1594.
I thank Contessa Simonetta Brandolini d'Adda, president of the Friends of Florence, and Gabrielle Taylor of the Palazzo Tornabuoni for co-hosting my presentation.
Here are some photos from una serata indimenticabile (an unforgettable evening)!
Grazie di cuore to all who came and made this evening so special. It was a joy to meet new friends and to see old friends again. I thank Emily and Maurizio of Paperback Exchange for providing books. To the Friends of Florence and Palazzo Tornabuoni, I am so grateful for your support and for welcoming back Mona Lisa in such grand style!
Dianne Hales is the author of MONA LISA: A Life Discovered and La Bella Lingua.
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