Born: 1 April 1492, Italy
Died: 25 February 1547
Country most active: Italy
Also known as: NA
The following is excerpted from Famous Women: An Outline of Feminine Achievement Through the Ages With Life Stories of Five Hundred Noted Women. Written by Joseph Adelman, published 1926 by Ellis M Lonow Company.
Vittoria Colonna (1490-1547), an Italian poet, daughter of Fabrizio Colonna, a celebrated military commander. She was born near Rome, her youth was passed among the great literary spirits of Italy, and in that atmosphere she composed her first poems. At 17 she married Francisco, Marquis of Pescara, to whom she had been betrothed since childhood, but in 1525 this happy union was broken by the death of the marquis, while absent on a military campaign.
The shock of her husband’s premature death crushed Vittoria for a time and she sought a retreat in the convent of San Silvestro. There she remained for a year, after which she returned to her country home on the island of Ischia, and appears for the first time to have devoted herself seriously to the writing of poetry. Her poems consist almost entirely of sonnets, and of these some hundred and thirty-four are inspired by grief at the loss of her husband, to whom she invariably alludes as “”mio bel sole, “my fair sun.”
When Vittoria came to Rome in 1530 she was received with the highest honors, and many wooers sought the hand of the wealthy, beautiful, and noble widow,—but she remained true to the memory of her husband.
It was in the year 1537 that her friendship with Michelangelo began; the great master was at this time in his sixty-third year, Vittoria in her forty-seventh. A strong sympathy existed between the two, alike honorable to both, and it lasted uninterruptedly until her death. She obtained great influence over his mind, inspired him in his work, and led him to inscribe many of his poems to her. In one of these he says that she has perfected his character as a sculptor perfects his clay model, by carving it in the hard living stone. And in another he says: “Let me address my verse to you, who have guided my life towards heaven by the most beauteous paths.”
The latter years of Vittoria’s life were clouded by sorrow, the fortunes of her family were no longer flourishing, and the death of her adopted son, the Marchese del Vasto, was a grievous blow. She died in Rome in February, 1547, and in her last moments was visited by her devoted and affectionate friend, Michelangelo.
With meekness and humility she desired to be buried without pomp or ceremony, and directed only that her “funeral should be after the manner of those who die in convents.”” Her wishes were acceded to, and she was laid in the common burial-ground of the nuns of Sant’ Anna. So passed Vittoria Colonna, Marchesa di Pescara, whose intellect and unblemished purity of character, make her a beautiful figure worthy of all reverence in the gallery of Italian women of letters.
The following is excerpted from “400 Outstanding Women of the World and the Costumology of Their Time” by Minna Moscherosch Schmidt, published in 1933.
Born in Rome, a daughter of Fabrizio Colonna, one of the greatest captains of his time, she was promised, at the age of seventeen, to Ferdinando d’Avalos, Marquis of Pescara, whom she married two years after. He soon died in Milan (1525) and Vittoria, profoundly affected by his death, went to live in the monastery of St. Silvester, where she wrote admirable poetry in his memory. During the war between the Colonna family and Pope Clement VII, she returned to her castle near Marino (by Rome).
After this she traveled through the principal towns of Italy, making elevating and ennobling friendships with many artists; among these was Michelangelo, of whom she became the counselor and worthy inspirer. In the last years of her life, her mystical vein induced her to retire again in convents and monasteries, near Rome, where she died in 1547. Her Lyrics are elevated and melancholy, all pervaded by Nature’s aspects and human sorrows, ending in peaceful religious thoughts. The beauty, the virtue and the talent of Vittoria Colonna were highly praised by her contemporaries, and particularly by Michelangelo who loved her greatly, and by Ariosto in the 37th Canto of Orlando Furioso.
Vittoria Collona was called: “the model Italian matron.”
The following is excerpted from A Cyclopædia of Female Biography, published 1857 by Groomsbridge and Sons and edited by Henry Gardiner Adams.
COLONNA, VITTORIA, Daughter of Fabricio, Duke of Paliano, was born at Marino, in 1490, and married in 1507, Francesco, Marquis of Pescara. Her poems have often been published, and are highly and deservedly admired. Her husband died in 1525, and she determined to spend the remainder of her life in religious seclusion, although various proposals of marriage were made to her. Her beauty, talents, and virtue, were extolled by her contemporaries, among others by Michael Angelo and Ariosto. She died in 1547, at Rome. She was affianced to the Marquis of Pescara in childhood, and as they grew up, a very tender affection increased with their years. Congenial in tastes, of the same age, their union was the model of a happy marriage. Circumstances shewed whose mind was of the firmer texture and higher tone. Francesco having exhibited extraordinary valour and generalship at the battle of Pavia, was thought of importance enough to be bribed; a negociation was set on foot to offer him the crown of Naples, if he would betray the sovereign to whom he had sworn fealty. The lure was powerful, and Francesco lent a willing ear to these propositions, when Vittoria came to the aid of his yielding virtue. She sent him that remarkable letter, where, among other things, she says, “Your virtue may raise you above the glory of being king. The sort of honour that goes down to our children with real lustre is derived from our deeds and qualities, not from power or titles. For myself, I do not wish to be the wife of a king, but of a general who can make himself superior to the greatest king, not only by courage, but by magnanimity, and superiority to any less elevated motive than duty.”
The following is excerpted from the Prospetto biografico delle donne italiane rinomate in letteratura dal secolo decimoquarto fino a’ giorni nostri di Ginevra Canonici Fachini (Biographical Survey of Italian Women Renowned in Literature from the Fourteenth Century to the Present Day by Ginevra Canonici Fachini), published in 1824 and made available by Project Gutenberg.
Colonna, Vittoria, di Napoli. N. 1490. M.1548.
Donna somma, divina, inpareggiabile! Promessa sposa nella età di 4 anni a Francesco d’ Avalos figlio dèl Marchese di Pescara, fu a lui congiùnta nell’ età di 17, lo spirito avendo ornato delle conoscenze migliori, il cuore e l’anima rivolti alla virtù; bella di corpo quanto un angelo del Paradiso. La guerra disgiunse due anime nate alla felicità, e Vittoria trovò solo nel ritiro e nello studio, calma e conforto. Ferito Francesco alla battaglia di Pavia, egli lasciò quasi strascinarsi alla seduzione di tradire il suo Re acquistandone in premio la corona di Napoli; tanto può sul morale lo stato di fìsica debolezza! ma a suo soccorso venne Vittoria con quella celebre Lettera, nella quale fra le altre cose scrive: La tua virtù ti solleva al dissopra della fortuna e della gloria del Re: non è colla grandezza degli Stati, o dei Titoli, ma con la virtù sola che si acquista un tale onore, che è glorioso di tramandare ai posteri. Quanto a me non desidero di essere moglie di un Re, ma di un gràn Capitano, che seppe vincere non solo col suo coraggio, ma colla sua magnanimità i più gran Re. Mori Francesco in Milano, e passò quindi Vittoria tutta la sua vita a piagnerlo. Vani riescendo gli sforzi de’ suoi congiunti per condurla a nuovo imeneo, restò fedele alla memoria del marito, e da quella seguita, si ritirò dal mondo in una casa religiosa di Viterbo. Non saprei addurre il motivo che la ricondusse in Roma, ove cessò di vivere encomiata con ben giusto entusiasmo, ed onorata col titolo di Divina da ogni genio della sua età.
Stanze, Sonetti, Odi, Canzoni, fra le quali il Trionfo della Croce di Cristo, ed altre molte Poesie, che tutto accolgono quanto mai per maestà di pensieri, per magnanimità e soavità d’ affetti, o purezza di lingua e dottrina bramare si possa.
Racc. di Poesie Ediz. di Parma, 1538, in 8.vo, di Venezia, 1558, in 8. vo, e del Butifon, Napoli, 1692-1693 in 12 mo.
Vila di Vittoria Colonna di Gio. Batt- Rola.
Vita della stessa, d’isabella Teotuchi-AIbrizzi, inserita nella Racc. dei 60 Ill. Italiani.
Colonna, Vittoria, di Napoli. B. 1490. D.1548.
A supreme, divine, incomparable woman! Betrothed at the age of four to Francesco d’Avalos, son of the Marquis of Pescara, she was joined to him at the age of seventeen, her spirit adorned with the finest knowledge, her heart and soul turned to virtue; beautiful in body as an angel of Paradise. War separated two souls born to happiness, and Vittoria found calm and comfort only in retreat and study. After Francesco was wounded in the battle of Pavia, he almost succumbed to the temptation to betray his King, buying him the crown of Naples as a reward; so much does physical weakness have on morale! But Vittoria came to his aid with that famous Letter, in which, among other things, she wrote: Your virtue raises you above the fortune and glory of the King: it is not with the greatness of States or Titles, but with virtue alone that one acquires such an honor, which it is glorious to pass on to posterity. As for me, I do not desire to be the wife of a King, but of a great Captain, who conquered the greatest kings not only with his courage but with his magnanimity. Francesco died in Milan, and Vittoria spent her entire life mourning him. When her relatives’ efforts to lead her to a new marriage were unsuccessful, she remained faithful to her husband’s memory, and, following that, she retired from the world to a religious house in Viterbo. I cannot explain the reason that brought her back to Rome, where she died, praised with justifiable enthusiasm and honored with the title of Divine by every genius of her age.
Stanzas, Sonnets, Odes, Songs, including the Triumph of the Cross of Christ, and many other poems, which encompass everything as much as one could desire in majesty of thought, magnanimity and sweetness of emotion, or purity of language and doctrine.
Collection of Poems Ed. of Parma, 1538, in 8th volume, of Venice, 1558, in 8th volume, and of Butifon, Naples, 1692-1693 in 12th volume.
Villa di Vittoria Colonna by Gio. Batt. Rola.
Life of the same, by Isabella Teotuchi-AIbrizzi, included in the Collection of 60 Italian Illustrious Men.