Between Domestic Care, Feelings, and Politics. The Correspondence of Bianca Maria Visconti (1450-1468)

Abstract

Bianca Maria Visconti duchess of Milan left behind her «a flood of correspondence», composed by either private letters, either dispatches of public interest. Her involvement in public affairs was not limited to the periods of regency, and she could dispose of a group of skilful secretaries (a part of her large household) to which she committed the writing of her letters. Her correspondents belonged either to her family − her husband, sons and daugters, relatives, more devote courtiers − either to her impressive patronal network, as ladies-in-waiting, friends, servants, retainers, nobles and aristocrats, prelates and even common people. In particular, the article reconsiders the last correspondence between the duchess and her son Galeazzo Maria, then duke of Milan: these letters reveal a warm personal affection, as much as a deep disagreement about the ruling of public affairs, and fully enlighten the strong temperament of this passionate Renaissance lady. The analysis finally focuses on some comments about the style, the formats, the literary solutions of the letters: for example, the use of autography to establish a closer contact with the correspondent.