The glitter and poverty of Venetian courtesans.
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One of the many reasons and occasions to visit Venice in the 16th and 18th centuries was the fame of Venetian courtesans. The word “corte” means court, including court ladies who provided a variety of useful and pleasurable services to local and visiting clients.
Venice is a citadel of educated, spectacular, wealthy, in-demand ladies – companions. The most famous priestess of love, Veronica Franco, was honored with a portrait by Jacopo Tintoretto himself.
And in modern times, the cinematography dedicated to her a wonderful movie “The Honest Courtesan”. Her fate is also of academic interest – some graduates of the University of Venice have written their term papers on women and society in Venice based on documents from the local archives.
Veronica was listed in the “Catalog of all the principal and worthy courtesans of Venice”, compiled for the needs and pleasures of visitors to the city in 1564 under number 205.
What is the reason for her success? What are the secrets of this ancient craft? What dangers does it carry? Despite her high position, Veronica was publicly disgraced and publicized as a “pobirushka” who empties the purses of visiting Bohemians (inhabitants of Bohemia). Therefore – judge for yourself: if high-born courtesans are not immune from scandal, violence and backbiting, what can be said about ordinary Venetian prostitutes? Which, according to local statistics, in the XVI century there were as many as 11 thousand in this glorious city with a population of about 180 thousand. In the neighborhood of Castelletto since XIV century these invariably demanded women are engaged in their eternal trade, and with them – pimps and procurers, gossipers and snitches, etc.
A very informative and colorful area of the city, not far from the Rialto Bridge. The topographical names have been preserved to this day, explicitly reminding us that here too the Venetians are at the forefront of the world.
From the bridge of “Women’s Busts” a customer could gaze at the lush female breasts of Venetian prostitutes, displayed spectacularly from the windows. The marketing of sex and seduction – at a rate accessible to all. For every pocket and purse, as they say. Like the neighborhoods of Amsterdam today, but much more beautiful in terms of natural scenery and costumes.
