Describe the characteristics of the Laura Dianti in Portrait of Laura Dianti's Identity of Figures.
It was previously thought that the woman figure in the portrait was the second wife of Alfonso I d'Este, Lucretia Borgia, however it was later determined by art historian, Carl Justi to be his third wife, Laura Dianti. It is known to art historians that Laura Dianti was not known by this name during her lifetime and was instead known of as Laura Eustochia. Art historian Jane Fair Bestor believes that it is possible that the Duke of Ferrara gave both names “Laura” and “Eustochia” to the woman upon the beginning of their relationship. It was common at the time for courtesans to change their names to have more poetic meanings, In this case Laura possibly refers to the “Laura” of Petrarch’s poetry. Eustochia would be in reference to Eustochium, a follower of St. Jerome and addressee of a famed letter penned by him about virginity.Laura Dianti first modeled for Titian in a painting titled, Girl with a Fur, and was known to be "the most gracious strumpet in art" for her depiction in Flora, also by Titian. According to Muriel Segal, the two met in Venice while he traveled with his family to his sister's house in the suburbs of the city. At the time of their meeting, she was the lover of the Duke of Ferrara, Alfonso I d'Este, and although considered lower-class, she gained the respect of the people around her and was a member of the Ferrarese court. After the Duke's second wife died in 1519,  it is assumed that he and Laura married and she became the duchess of Ferrara. It is debated by art historians whether this portrait was painted before or after their marriage. Even though she had the air of respect, she was treated differently from the other wives of the Duke of Ferrara. She lived in a separate residence from the family palace and once he died in 1573, she was buried in Sant Augostino of Ferrara, separate from the other members of the d'Este family.
Eustochium Sant Augostino of Ferrara St. Jerome Carl Justi Lucretia Borgia Alfonso I d'Este Titian Jerome Venice Petrarch Laura Dianti