Award‑winning novelist, broadcaster, and cultural commentator Sarah Dunant brings her acclaimed blend of “flawless historical scholarship and beguiling storytelling” to The Marchesa, her exploration of the formidable Renaissance patron Isabella d’Este. Dunant’s work has been translated into more than thirty languages, adapted for radio, and widely praised for its vivid reimagining of women’s lives in history. Her Renaissance novels have become international bestsellers, and her research‑rich approach has shaped major BBC series and public talks on art, power, and the past.
In this illustrated event, Sarah reflects on the ideas and discoveries that underpin the novel, tracing the interplay of politics, creativity and female agency in 15th‑ and 16th‑century Italy. Isabella emerges as a commanding presence: the leading female art collector and patron of her time - she ran a famed court, was a fashion icon and a cunning political operator. Isabella left behind a magnificent collection of paintings, sculptures, books, instruments and curiosities having employed Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Titian and Michelangelo amongst others. Isabella played an important role in Mantua during troubled times for the city. When her husband was captured in 1509 and held hostage in Venice, she took control of Mantua's military forces and held off the invaders until his release in 1512. As a ruler, Isabella appeared to have been much more competent than her husband and she began to play an increasingly important role in Italian politics, steadily advancing Mantua's position. She was instrumental in promoting Mantua to a Duchy.
Please note: There is no wheelchair access to the Library and approximately 8 steps