Giovanni and Lusanna: Love and Marriage in Renaissance Florence

In 1420, Lusanna is born in Florence to an immigrant, Benedetto di Girolamo. Benedetto is a successful tailor who earns enough money to purchase several properties within and outside of Florence. His wealth makes Lusanna’s family somewhat better off than other families in the artisanal social class.

Lusanna eventually marries the baker, Andrea Nucci, but she catches the eye of the aristocratic Giovanni della Casa in the early 1440s. Giovanni attends the same church as Lusanna, and he quickly develops an infatuation with her. It is impossible to know the complete truth of Lusanna’s relationship with Giovanni because the only record comes from witness testimonies. During the trial, Lusanna’s and Giovanni’s witnesses each portray Lusanna differently. Lusanna’s family testifies that she was a chaste and respectable wife to her husband, Andrea, while he was alive. On the other hand, Giovanni’s witnesses claim Giovanni and Lusanna began an adulterous affair before her husband’s death and that she has a reputation for being a promiscuous woman.

Brucker points out that Lusanna was atypical for her time, characterized by “strong passions” that lead her to continually seek adulterous affairs with Giovanni and other suitors (84). He theorizes that Lusanna did begin an affair with Giovanni while Andrea was still alive and that she had more than one adulterous relationship.