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Josefa Ordóñez
Josefa Ordóñez (1728 – after 1792), was an actress and courtesan in 18th century Mexico City. Stage career Josefa Ordóñez was born in Granada, the daughter of the actor José Ordóñez, who had some fame as an actor in Cadiz in Spain. She arrived in Mexico City in 1743, in an acting troupe composed of her parents, sister and eight musicians, one of whom was her spouse, the Italian violinist Gregorio Panseco. In Mexico City, she was engaged as a ''primera dama'' (female lead) at the Nuevo Coliseo theater. She was described as an accomplished actress. In 1748, she advanced to be ''autor de comedias'' (production manager) of the theater, an unusual accomplishment for an artist of her gender. She also managed an illegal gambling casino in her home. Her casino was very popular among the male members of the Mexican elite and attracted clients such as the Marquis del Valle de la Colina. Reportedly, patrons lost thousands of pesos in her casino. She also illegally sold alcoh ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Courtesan
Courtesan, in modern usage, is a euphemism for a "kept" mistress (lover), mistress or prostitute, particularly one with wealthy, powerful, or influential clients. The term historically referred to a courtier, a person who attended the Royal court, court of a monarch or other powerful person. History In European feudalism, feudal society, the court was the centre of government as well as the residence of the monarch, and social and political life were often completely mixed together. Prior to the Renaissance, courtesans served to convey information to visiting dignitaries, when servants could not be trusted. In Renaissance Europe, courtiers played an extremely important role in upper-class society. As it was customary during this time for royal couples to lead separate lives—commonly marrying simply to preserve bloodlines and to secure political alliances—men and women would often seek gratification and companionship from people living at court. In fact, the verb 'to court' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
