10

The artist’s signature »Scipio. Caietanu[s]./faciebat’ was identified, with difficulty,
 at the top of the figure’s right shoulder when the painted surface was analysed.
 Pulzone usually signed most of his paintings. The portrait of Christina of
Lorraine (Florence, Galleria Palatina) also carries the inscription »Scipio faciebat
 1590’ in identical writing on the left, at the top of the shoulder as in this
painting.

Confirmation of the likeness of Scipione’s portrait to its model is given by
contemporary testimony. Bianca’s features were effectively described by Michel
de Montaigne, who was received in Florence by the grand dukes in 1581 and had
the chance to admire Bianca over the course of a banquet. He defined her as
»beautiful in Italian tastes, with an attractive and imperious face, a large bust
and a bosom as is liked here. It seemed to the lord of Montaigne that she showed
the satisfied certainty of having charmed this prince, and to have kept him enthralled
 for a long time« (»belle à l’opinion Italienne, un visage agréable & imprieux,
 le corsage gros, & de tetins à leur souhait. Elle lui sambla bien avoir la
suffisance d’avoir angeolé ce Prince, & de le tenir à sa dévotion long

tamps«).4

Bianca Cappello
»Aude et

fiet«5

Bianca Cappello’s story, which began when she eloped with the Florentine Pietro
Bonaventuri, is one of a woman who was determined and unscrupulous - perhaps
thoughtless in youth - endowed with a good measure of intelligence and common
sense.6

Bianca was born around 1548 to Bartolomeo Cappello and Pellegrina Morosini,
 both belonging to ancient and important noble Venetian families. According
 to

documents,7

Bianca grew up fairly freely and essentially with little
control after the premature death of her mother. At the age of sixteen she fell
in love with Pietro Bonaventuri, a young Florentine employed at the Venetian
branch of the Salviati Bank of Florence, who lived near Bartolomeo Cappello’s
palazzo at Sant’Aponal in the San Polo district. Bonaventuri seems to have
deceived Bianca about his position at the Salviati Bank to convince her to go
with him to Tuscany, and it is suggested that he had his eye on the 6000 ducat
inheritance left to Bianca by her mother. The young couple hatched a plan to
elope, which they put into action in October 1563 with the help of Bonaventuri’s
 uncle. On arriving in Florence they got married and Pietro put himself under
 the protection of Francesco de Medici. Following Bartolomeo Cappello’s
report, the Council of Ten issued a banishment order against Pietro Bonaventuri.
 The young girl’s father, however, was prepared to pardon her provided she
returned to Venice and retreated to a convent. The order also cited Bianca, and