Molza, Tarquinia (1542–1617)

views updated

Molza, Tarquinia (1542–1617)

Italian philosopher and musician. Name variations: Tarquinia Molsa; Tarquinia Molza Porrina. Born Nov 1, 1542, in Modena, Italy; died 1617 in Modena; dau. of Cavaliero Camillo Molza and Isabella Colomba Molza; granddau. of poet Francesco Maria Molza; m. Paolo Porrino, 1560 (died 1579); no children.

Italian beauty, wit, writer, composer, singer, musician and scholar, who lived and worked in Modena and Ferrara, was also a student of natural philosophy; as the eldest and most experienced of the women musicians at the court of Alfonso II d'Este, 5th duke of Ferrara (1583–89), was one of the court's leading intellects; was so respected by the Roman Senate that she was voted Roman citizenship to her and her heirs in perpetuity (1601).