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Watch LECTURE 2 "Mistress"

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LECTURE 2 "Mistress"

Married, Mistress or Mortuary: Women’s Portraits.. • 1h 8m

Dr. Meghan Callahan

Whether married or single, Renaissance men looked to mistresses to amuse them, enhance their status or provide sons if their own wives could not provide them. Their status was commemorated in portraits by some of the most famous artists of the day. Some of the women were professionals, who worked as courtesans across Italy. Others were women of the court, and a few, unusually, became wives.

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  • LECTURE 3 "Mortuary"
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    LECTURE 3 "Mortuary"

    LECTURE 3 "Mortuary"

    Dr. Meghan Callahan

    Once deceased, a woman moved into the realm of memory. If she had brought money and connections to the man’s family, and provided him an heir (or several), she could be commemorated in painting or a tomb. Some women made sure to incorporate themselves into memorial displays f...

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