Reading Microhistory: The Example of Giovanni and Lusanna

Abstract

Antonia de' Virgiliesi was a character in one of the early fifteenth-century novelle of the Lucchese writer Giovanni Sercambi (1348-1424). She was a Pistoiese widow who took in the gravely ill Ricciardo de' Panciatichi at her country home near Poggio a Caiano. Upon recovering his health Ricciardo informed Antonia that it would please him if she would become his wife. Though surprised by this revelation, because she was too old have children and Ricciardo was a young man, Antonia found that his words aroused in her a sexual desire (venire la rosa al culo). Driven, then, by la rabbia al culo, she accepted his promise marry her when he offered it, at her request, in a church, although there were no witnesses. They then returned her house, where Antonia proceeded to satisfy the longing in her loins (cavarsi la rabbia del culo). Having sated his lust many times, Ricciardo eventually made an excuse return Pistoia, where he freely boasted of his sexual exploits. Antonia's kin (parenti) got wind of this and confronted her, but they did not share her faith in Ricciardo's promise, for they knew him be a man of bad character (cattiva condizione). They lamented that she had been shamed like a whore (vergognata come meretrice). Events in Sercambi's story then moved swiftly their conclusion. Ricciardo's kin arranged his marriage a young lady; Antonia thereupon went the bishop and told him of Ricciardo's promise and subsequent carnal knowledge of her. The bishop sent for Ricciardo, who admitted using her many times like a prostitute but denied ever intending marriage. Then, says Sercambi, Antonia was shamed before her kin and never again did she have honor (ne' mai piiu non ebbe onore). 1 It is a similar story that Gene Brucker tells in his Giovanni and Lusanna, though his is historical and not fictional.2 Like Antonia de' Virgiliesi, Lusanna was a widow seemingly victimized by the feigned marital intent of a young man of good family-in her case the Florentine Giovanni della Casa. The relationship between Giovanni and Lusanna seems have begun while she was still married, though whether the relationship was then sexual was a matter of dispute between them in court. Soon after her husband's death there was a private wedding ceremony in