Ginevra de' Benci: Biography, Facts and Career
Who is Ginevra de' Benci? An evergreen, sourced profile: biography, key facts and career.
Ginevra de' Benci (1457–1521) was a member of the Benci family in Florence and is the subject of an early portrait by Leonardo da Vinci. Ginevra was born into a family of wealthy Florentine merchants in 1457. The Benci had business dealings with the Medici and were noted humanists themselves, patronizing artists and writers and creating an important library of classical texts. In 1474 she married Luigi de Bernardo Niccolini. Bernardo Bembo, Lorenzo de' Medici, Alessandro Braccesi, and Christoforo Landino dedicated poems to her.
Ginevra was widely admired for her beauty, intellect, and poetry. Only a single line of her poetry survives: "I ask your forgiveness and I am a mountain tiger." She spent her later life in self imposed exile, trying to recover from illness and an ill-fated love affair. She died in 1521 aged 63 or 64, likely from this unknown illness.
Quick facts about Ginevra de' Benci
- Full name: Ginevra de' Benci
- Born: 1457-01-01
- Known as: Fashion figure
- Wikidata ID: Q3494135
Profile compiled from public Wikipedia and Wikidata data. Details can change over time.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Ginevra de' Benci?
Ginevra de' Benci (1457–1521) was a member of the Benci family in Florence and is the subject of an early portrait by Leonardo da Vinci.
What is Ginevra de' Benci known for?
Ginevra de' Benci (1457–1521) was a member of the Benci family in Florence and is the subject of an early portrait by Leonardo da Vinci.
When was Ginevra de' Benci born?
Ginevra de' Benci was born on 1457-01-01.
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