A BIT IN DEEP: FILIPPO LIPPI

Fra’ (=friar) Filippo di Tommaso Lippi among the painters was one of the greatest, but between the friars was one of the most mischievous.

Vasari writes: "It is said that he was so venereus (= lover of Venus), that when he liked women, he would have donated all his possessions to get her favours. And he was so lost behind this appetite, that when he was in this mood forgot any work."

When at fifty he was appointed chaplain, fell in love with the nun Lucrezia Buti, who does not disdain Fra’ Filippo, and left the convent for the house of her lover. To solve this great scandal Cosimo de 'Medici spent more than a good word from Pope Pius II, who disbanded by the votes both lovers.

Happy ending?

Not at all, dissolved by the votes Lippi refused to marry, not less Lucrezia bore him two sons, one of whom Filippino Lippi would follow in the footsteps of his father (as a painter).

And if you are curious about the appearance of Madame Lucrezia, well you have to know that she was his favorite model.

Moreover, the mischievous attitude of Filippo was not limited to the dedication to Venus, at work was not less. Given that in his early career as a painter and wayward he lived in poor conditions, then thought of using some kind of shortcut like forged signatures, in short, little things like that.

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