This brings me to The Courtier demanding that women, "have a swetenesse in language and a good utterance to enterein all kinde of men with communication woorth the hearing, honest, applyed to time and place and to the degree and disposition of the person wich is her principal profession." I would like to compare this to the brief clipped we watched from Dangerous Beauty.
Dangerous Beauty is about Veronica Franco, a famous Italian courtesan. Her story begins as a child of a courtesan. She makes her way in the world of cortesanship, but is eventually tried for witchcraft. Although she is found not guilty, her reputation is tarnished and she ends her life living in a part of town known for common prostitutes.
The quote from the Courtier that I have chosen means that a woman should be able to carry a conversation, but also know when is appropriate to keep her mouth shut. Because she is not man, she cannot go about telling her thoughts and opinions all the time, she must respect her company and be willing to conform in order to impress. "Sweetnesse in language" probably means to speak softly, not boldly. It would be unwomanly to be outspoken or overemotional. Furthermore, a woman should be able to "entertain all kinde of men" and that her talk should never be shallow, or dull.
In Dangerous Beauty Veronica is clearly sad that her friend (her love interest's sister?) is forced by her parents to marry an older man. It is evident that Veronica wants to say something to her friend, the parents, and even her love interest about how the money and ties for family lineage shouldn't sacrifice her friend's happiness. She doesn't say anything [at least not before they are married...] because she doesn't want to step on any toes and ruin her reputation as an 'honest courtesan'. Although she hasn't officially become one yet, she understands her place in society and tries to live up to the expectations of a woman the best she can.
Furthermore, the Mona Lisa exemplifies this attitude as well. ( I know, I wasn't supposed to mention this...) The smirk on her face suggests something entertaining, as if she has a secret to tell, but the mystery [and her mouth actually being shut] illustrates this quality of the perfect Renaissance woman.
Furthermore, although not a "certified courtesan, " Artemisa Gentileshci exemplifies the the qualties of a "gentylwoman." For example, women were "to have the vertues for the minde, as wisdome, jstice, noblenesse of courage, temperance, strength of the minde, continencey, sobermoode, etc." She "born and of a good house," her father being the famous Orazio. Of her siblings, she was the only one taught painting by her father. Although men flourished during this period, many historians often often think not. Artemisa shows, however, that at least one did.
