Marchesa of Mantova, she
was born in Ferrara in 1474 and died in Mantova in 1539. Doughter of the Duke Ercole I of
Ferrara and of Eleonor of Aragon, when only sixteen she was married to Francesco Gonzaga.
She was one of the most outstanding and refined women of the Renaissance, keen on music
and poetry. Her son Federico was educated by the philosopher Pietro Pomponazzi and she
made Mantova a cultural center.
Isabella d'Este, an experienced diplomatic, guided the policies of the duchy firmly, both
during her husband's imprisonment in Venice, obtaining his liberation through
negotiations, and after his death (1519).
Isabella, keen on beautiful things and antiques enriched the rooms of the Palace and
expecially her Studio and the Grotto, two small rooms given to her by her husband. For her
Studio, Isabella called the painter Giovan Luca Palombeni who decorated with friezes and
coat-of-arms the doors of the built-in-wardrobes that covered it entirely. These were
later on replaied by a series of allegorical paintings by Mantegna.
For the Grotto she called the brothers Mola who inlaid architectures of imaginary
cities and palaces, musical instruments and graceful court scenes on wooden panels. In
this room, Isabella gathered all kinds of masterpieces: small bronzes, precious
manuscripts, musical instruments and a globe on which she followed Columbus's voyages.
Only three of the 1600 pieces, she had gathered, are still left here.
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