Tarquinia Molza facts for kids
Tarquinia Molza was an amazing Italian woman who lived from 1542 to 1617. She was a talented singer, a poet, a music leader, a composer, and even a scientist! People thought she was incredibly skilled, a true virtuosa.
She was connected to a famous group of women singers called the Concerto delle donne. It's not clear if she sang with them or taught them, but she was definitely involved. Tarquinia also played a special musical instrument called the viola bastarda.
Early Life and Learning
Tarquinia Molza was born in Modena, Italy. Her grandfather was a famous poet, and her parents were Camillus and Isabella Colombi. Her father believed she should have the same education as her brothers. This was unusual for girls back then!
She learned many subjects, including Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and philosophy. She studied these until she was sixteen years old. She had great teachers, like the scientist John Politiano and the poet Francis Patrizio. She also learned about stars and planets (astronomy) from the mathematician Antony Guarini.
In 1560, she married Paolo Porrino. He supported her decision to go back to school. After his death by 1579, she became a widow.
Music Career
By 1583, Tarquinia Molza was living in Ferrara. She worked as a lady-in-waiting for Duchess Margherita Gonzaga d'Este. In this role, she became very famous for her performances. She was also known for leading music and composing her own songs.
However, in 1589, she was asked to leave her position. After that, she went back to live in Mantua.
Her Writings
Tarquinia Molza was a talented writer. She wrote poems in both Latin and a local Italian language called Tuscan dialect. She also wrote essays, which are short pieces of writing about a certain topic.
Honors and Recognition
Many artists and writers admired Tarquinia Molza. They dedicated their works to her. For example, Francesco Patrizi wrote about her beautiful singing in his book L'amorosa filosofia. She might have been the first singer to have a book written just about her life! This book was called Opuscoli inediti di Tarquinia Molza modenese.
Her name is also honored on the Heritage Floor of Judy Chicago's famous artwork, The Dinner Party. This artwork celebrates important women throughout history.
In 1600, Tarquinia Molza received a very special honor. She was granted Roman citizenship. This was a huge deal because she was the only woman ever to receive this honor! The official document said that even though the Senate had never given citizenship to women before, Tarquinia Molza of Modena was being made one of their most noble citizens. They even gave her the special title l'Unica, which means "The Unique One." This was to recognize her amazing talents and achievements.
