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“Living Dolls”: François Ier Dresses His Women*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2018

Yassana C. Croizat
Yassana C. Croizat*
Affiliation:
Institute of Fine Arts, New York University
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Abstract

In addition to portraits and diplomatic reports, Renaissance courts relied on fashion dolls to acquaint themselves with foreign dress. Unfortunately, literature on this subject is scarce and often disappointing. Overlooked by doll historians, a letter written by Federico Gonzaga (1500–40) in 1515 reveals that François Ier (1494–1547) requested a fashion doll from Isabella d’Este (1474–1539). After examining this document within the context of what is currently known about Renaissance fashion dolls, this essay explores what François I er’s interest in these objects suggests about his personality and his relationship to the women of his court.

Type
Research Article
Information
Renaissance Quarterly , Volume 60 , Issue 1 , Spring 2007 , pp. 94 - 130
Copyright
Copyright © 2007 Renaissance Society of America

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Footnotes

*

I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Colin Eisler of New York University’s Institute of Fine Arts, for encouraging me to pursue this topic and for patiently commenting on the many versions of this essay. I am also deeply grateful to Dr. Ann Jones, to the anonymous RQ reader, and to Dr. Jeffrey Chipps Smith for their invaluable suggestions. Finally, I would like to thank Joshua E. Glazer for his advice and unwavering support. Unless otherwise noted, all translations are my own.

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