Tullia d’Aragona

One of the most prominent and talked-about women of the Italian Renaissance was Tullia d’Aragona (c. 1501–1556). She was a poet and philosopher – and a powerful advocate for women’s intellectual standing.

Throughout her life, Tullia d’Aragona moved in elite circles in Rome, Venice, Ferrara, Siena and Florence, establishing herself at a young age as a cortigiana onesta, an educated courtesan well versed in philosophy, literature and art.

Tullia d’Aragona was also an active writer across several genres. Both Dialogen om kärlekens oändlighet – in which she presents her philosophy of love in an entertaining and intelligent way – and the poetry collection Rime were published in 1547 and became immediate successes, followed by several further editions.

In a new book – Tullia d’Aragona. Kurtisan, poet och filosof – literary scholar Johanna Vernqvist offers fascinating insights into Tullia d’Aragona’s multifaceted life story, her literary works and the period and context in which she worked. A selection of her poems is also presented in Swedish translation.

Johanna Vernqvist is an associate professor of literature and a senior lecturer at Linköping University. Her research interests lie in the history of early modern literature, often with a focus on gender and the conditions shaping literature. She has also researched women’s book collecting and reading. Her monograph on the Italian Renaissance poet Gaspara Stampa was published in 2021.

The lecture is organised in collaboration with Svenska Rominstitutets vänner.