Figure 1.--Here Lodovico greets his eldest son who he has arranged to be appointed cardinal. The two boys are his younger sons. The painting is a fresco by Mantegna (1474).

Giovanni's successor was Lodovico III, Marquis of Mantua (1444-78). Lodovico was Educated by Vittorino da Feltre. He accepted his teachings that a prince should be just, pious, and learned. As a young man he served as a officer in the wars with neighnoring states. He served in the Milanese wars against Venice with some destinction. His record was mared by a temprary deserted to Venice (1437-40), apparently jealous of his brother Carolo. He allied himself with Duke Francesco Sforza. He married a Hohenzollern Princess--Barbara of Brandenberg (about 1458). He convinced her that he was a committed family man. In fact he had many mistresses. His two younger sons, Gian Francesco ( -1498) and Rodolfo ( -1494) founded the lines of Princes of Bezzola (extinct 1703), and Castiglione & Solferino (extinct 1819). As he grew older he became an invalid. The image on the previous page shows the court of Lodovicio about 1474, although we can not identify all the individuals involved we do know some. The man in the pink (or faded red) robe is Lodovicio, with his German princess at his side. The boys at her side are Gian Francesco and Rodolfo. Unfortunately we do not see much of how they were dressed, except for the boy's red cap looking ratherlike a fez and the garland worn by the other boy (figure 1). Surely some of the individuals behind mother and father are some other family members. Lodovico wanted to associate himself with the Remaisance and engaged Mantegna to decorate one of the rooms of his palace--the Camera degli Sposi. The result is a glorious view of Italian court life in the 15th century high Renaissance. Here we see Lodovico receiving his son, the new cardinal. With him are his two younger sons (figure 1).

Created: 10:40 AM 5/7/2009
Last updated: 10:41 AM 5/7/2009