The glitter and poverty of Venetian courtesans.
One of the many reasons and occasions to visit Venice in the 16th-18th centuries was the fame of Venetian courtesans. The word “corte” means “court”, including court ladies who provided various useful and pleasant services to local and visiting clients.
Venice is a citadel of educated, striking, wealthy, sought-after companion ladies. The most famous priestess of love, Veronica Franco, was honored with a portrait painted by Jacopo Tintoretto himself.
In our time, cinema dedicated a wonderful film “The Honest Courtesan” to her. Her fate also represents academic interest – some graduates of the University of Venice wrote term papers on women and society in Venice, based on documents from local archives.
Veronica was included in the “Catalog of all the main and worthy courtesans of Venice”, compiled for the needs and pleasure of the city’s guests in 1564 under number 205.
What is the reason for her success? What are the secrets of this ancient craft? What dangers does it hold? Despite her high status, Veronica was publicly disgraced and advertised as a “beggar”, emptying the wallets of visiting bohemians (residents of the Czech Republic). So – judge for yourself: if even highborn courtesans are not insured against scandal, violence, and undermining, what can be said about ordinary Venetian prostitutes? According to local statistics, there were as many as 11 thousand of them in this glorious city with a population of about 180 thousand people in the 16th century. In the vicinity of Castellettto since the 14th century, these consistently sought-after women have been engaged in their eternal craft, along with pimps and procurers, gossips and informers, etc.
A very informative and colorful district of the city, located near the Rialto Bridge. The topographical names have survived to this day, unambiguously reminding us that even here Venetians are at the forefront of the world.
From the “Women’s Busts” bridge, a buyer could gaze at the lush female breasts of Venetian prostitutes, dramatically displayed from shop windows. The marketing of sex and seduction – at a price accessible to all. For every pocket and wallet, as they say. Like the districts of Amsterdam today, but much more beautiful in terms of natural landscapes and costumes.
