Isabella de Medici, By Caroline P Murphy
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Isabella de Medici was the daughter of Cosimo de Medici and a cousin of the infamous Catherine. Catherine de Medici was feared as a mistress of the black arts, a woman who rose to power by nefarious means. Her relation, Isabella, was both rich and beautiful, and much adored by her powerful father, too. But she also had a dark side, becoming implicated in murder and, in turn, being murdered, probably by her own brother.
She'd married a man who consorted with prostitutes and wasn't above giving her a good slap, although this didn't prevent her having two children by him and keeping busy with artistic projects. The deaths of two favourite brothers and her mother in one year must have had a huge impact on her, although, as Caroline P Murphy argues, it was the death of her father, her protector, that really sealed her fate.
It's the kind of tragic, convoluted, passionate story we expect of the de Medicis, and Murphy's clear, detailed narrative doesn't disappoint. However, I think we're still left with a more shadowy woman at the end than might have been the case.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments