Poetry, courtesans, and women's rights in Venice
Plus, some spicy events in Scotland.
Self-care note: This newsletter includes mentions of sex work, misogyny, and abuse. If you find this distressing or triggering, remember to take it at your own pace. You may prefer to read small sections, wait until you feel ready to read it all, or choose not to read it at all.
It's Iris, back on newsletter duty! If we haven’t crossed paths before, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Iris Pase, and I’m the editor behind Pillow Talk. While I'm currently based in Glasgow, I originally hail from Italy, specifically from a tiny town near Venice.
Venice — a city brimming with history, culture, and undeniable allure — represents a rite of passage of sorts for anyone from my region, Veneto. From school trips to the best aperitivo con vista (“drinks with a view”), the city has played a big role in my life. It's where I pursued my bachelor’s degree, and its rich history and culture kicked off my writing career.
So, as I find myself in Venice for a wee holiday, I thought: why not share some intriguing Venetian history with you in this special holiday edition of our newsletter?
So let’s deviate from our usual Scottish adventures. Today, we’ll delve into the captivating life of Veronica Franco, the cortigiana honesta — the “honest courtesan”.
It’s the 16th century and the Republic of Venice is at the height of its expansion. The city stands as a beacon of prosperity, teeming with life, commerce, and, yes, a fair share of indulgence. Amidst this backdrop, societal norms swirled like the waters of its iconic canals, and sex workers, then commonly referred to as 'prostitutes,' made up 10% of the Venetian population.
Veronica Franco, born in 1546 to a well-to-do family, epitomised the complex interplay of fortune and fate in Venetian society. Her lineage, with a merchant father and a courtesan mother, bestowed upon her a unique upbringing, allowing her to study, unlike most women at the time.
Raised by her mother in the art of courtly seduction, Veronica's trajectory diverged unexpectedly when she wedded a physician, Paolo Panizza, at the tender age of 16. However, he later turned out to be an abusive gambler, and she had an affair with a merchant from Dubrovnik, which bore fruit in the form of a child. It was only after severing ties with her husband that Veronica turned to the profession her mother had prepared her for, becoming a courtesan to secure her livelihood.
Within the intricate hierarchy of Venetian sex work, a clear division existed between 'common prostitutes' — cortigiane di lume, and 'honest courtesans' — cortigiane honeste, the latter enjoying a degree of privilege unmatched by most women of the time. Courtesans wielded agency in selecting their clientele, often catering to the elite echelons of society. They were well-dressed, intelligent, talented in music and writing, and provided company as well as sexual gratification.
Veronica Franco became the most popular ‘honest courtesan’ of her times — she would charm anyone who met her, including Henry III of France. She was a close friend of the painter Tintoretto, whose portrait of her you can see at the top of this newsletter.
Veronica's pen wielded as much power as her presence, crafting verses that garnered her entry in one of the most well-known literary circles in Venice, Ca’ Venier, and to have her poems published in two volumes, Terze Rime and Lettere familiari a diversi.
A brilliant poetess, Veronica often challenged the status quo. Her work reflected on herself and her life, highlighting the issues affecting women at the time and advocating for greater gender equality.
When we too are armed and trained, we can convince men that we have hands, feet, and a heart like yours; and although we may be delicate and soft, some men who are delicate are also strong; and others, coarse and harsh, are cowards. Women have not yet realized this, for if they should decide to do so, they would be able to fight you until death; and to prove that I speak the truth, amongst so many women, I will be the first to act, setting an example for them to follow.
— Veronica Franco, from Lettere Familiari (translation by A women’s thing)
When she moved to her mother’s house to her own palace in Santa Maria Formosa, she created her own salon, hosting poetry workshops, philosophical debates, cultural activities, and some other more ‘fun’ activities.
She died at the young age of 45, having lost all her wealth due to the 1575 plague. Her poems and reflections live on though, and are still a source of reflection on the condition of women in our societies.
If you want to learn more about her, you can read The Honest Courtesan: Veronica Franco, Citizen and Writer in Sixteenth-Century Venice by Margaret F. Rosenthal. You can also watch Dangerous Beauty, which was based on the above mentioned book.
I hope you enjoyed this little journey through time. We’ll be back to our usual Scottish business in the next newsletter. And if you like history, keep an eye on our socials as some exciting news are coming! You can find us on Instagram and TikTok.
Join us in Glasgow for our next reading group 🍒
📌Glasgow Zine Library 📆 30 April 💸 Free! ⏰7-8.30pm
The Sex Positive Reading Group is for anyone interested in learning more about sex education, sexual health, how we relate to the people around us, and how society impacts that. We welcome people of all genders, sexualities and ages in a non-pressured, non-academic setting.
This month we are reading an extract from Losing It: Dispelling the Sex Myths That Rule Our Lives by Sophia Smith Galer. We will be reading the chapter on virility, which you can find here.
This reading group is a mixed space, i.e. it welcomes both straight and queer people, just so you know what (and whom) to expect when joining us.
If you have accessibility requests or other queries, send us an email at pillowtalkscotland@gmail.com.
Other spicy events happening soon🌶️
Consent and Boundaries Workshop (course). 16 Apr - 21 May, Glasgow.
Breast Quilt as part of the Comfort exhibition. 1st February to 18th April, Glasgow.
Book Launch: Shane Strachan. 25 April, Glasgow.
Which period product is best for me? 25 April, online.
Let's Talk About (Queer) Sex! 25 April, Edinburgh.
The Psychology of Fetish and Kink with Dr Lori Beth Bisbey. May 16, Glasgow.
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