La liberazione della Donna: music, theatre and sexual politics in early Seicento Florence

Following on from Buontalenti's designs for the Intermedi of 1589 through to the Birth of Opera in Florence in 1600 - and the work of the designers and composers who collaborated on these productions - John  Hoenig continues his research for the third phase of his journey into early modern Florentine ephemeral events.

Moving into the first decades of the 17th century, one encounters an intriguing period uniquely distinguished by female patrons of female artists (visual, literary and musical). Significant proponents of this were singer and composer Francesca Caccini and Medici grand-duchesses Cristina di Lorena and Maria Maddalena d'Austria. However, these will be placed in a broader context from Lucrezia Tornabuoni through to Vittoria della Rovere.