Giovanni and Lusanna: Love and Marriage in Renaissance Florence

In Chapter 2, Brucker outlines the conflicting narratives of Lusanna and Giovanni’s relationship, which were recorded during their trial’s witness testimonies. The chapter is split in two. The first half recounts “Lusanna’s Story,” and the second half describes “Giovanni’s Story.”

Lusanna’s narrative is supported by witness testimonies from her close relatives, including her brother, Antonio, and the friar Fra Felice Asini. She claims that the friar officiated the marriage between her and Giovanni. According to these witnesses, Lusanna was a devoted wife to her first husband, Andrea, and she was known throughout her neighborhood for her beauty. One day, she caught Giovanni’s eye, and he started to make occasional romantic advances toward her. Though Lusanna did not return his initial flirtations, they grew more persistent when she became a widow. Antonio intervened and insisted that Giovanni marry Lusanna before they had any sexual relations. At first, Giovanni refused to marry her, claiming that his wealthy father would not allow him to marry lower-class Lusanna. However, Giovanni eventually agreed to a secret marriage with her, and he proposed that his friend Fra Felice officiate the wedding at Antonio’s house.

Lusanna’s relatives and Giovanni’s friends, Giuliana and Niccolò Magaldi, witnessed the wedding.