ABSTRACT
An observer with an interest in foibles and failings of women at the top of their society could have found much to relish at the celebrations for the marriage of Alfonso d’Este and Lucrezia Borgia – not least in bearing and behaviour of Isabella. She was determined not to be cast into the shade by the bride, who was replacing her as the first lady of Ferrarese court and in time would take her mother’s place as duchess of Ferrara. As the first lady of the court, she had a formal role to play in the ceremonies to welcome her brother’s bride to Ferrara. Her first duty was to travel on a luxurious state barge to meet Lucrezia and accompany her on the final stage of her journey along the Po. For the men and the women of court society, clothes were a serious matter. Both sexes paid careful attention to what they wore, and to what others were wearing.
