[MR] Wikipedia: Imperia Cognati, A-List Courtesan

[Garth Groff via Atlantia]

Noble Friends,

The Italian courtesan known as Imperia Cognati was born this date in 
1486 (or maybe earlier, nobody knows for sure). Imperia was the top 
courtesan at the Papal court, and was noted for her charm and learning, 
as well as her beauty. Not a great deal is known about her life, but the 
idea of Papal courtesans is unusual, to say the least. So Imperia 
provides us with another interesting facet of Italian Renaissance life: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperia_Cognati .

The article mentions that Imperia had a daughter, Lucrezia. Lucrezia was 
apparently schooled in a convent, and was considered a model of virtue. 
Of course this meant that many men wanted her. The irony is that their 
desire would have destroyed the very virtue they so prized. (Sigh! Yes, 
we men can be real pigs.)

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, That Crazy Scot