Benci, Ginevra de' (b. 1457)

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Benci, Ginevra de' (b. 1457)

Florentine intellectual. Name variations: Ginevra d'Benci. Born 1457 in Florence, Italy; dau. of a wealth Florentine banker; m. Luigi Niccolini, Jan 15, 1474.

Considered one of the most gifted intellectuals of her day, was the subject of a painting by Leonardo da Vinci, probably at the time of her marriage; had a platonic affair with Bernardo Bembo, Venetian ambassador to Florence; in later years, went into self-imposed exile in hopes of recovering from a serious illness.

See also "Ginevra's Story," narrated by Meryl Streep, PBS-TV.

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