Paolina Loredan was the
Dogaressa of
Venice
Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 ...
by marriage to
Doge Carlo Contarini
Carlo Contarini (5 July 1580 – 1 May 1656) was the 100th Doge of Venice, reigning from his election on 27 March 1655 until his death a little over a year later.
Background 1580–1655
Carlo Contarini was born in Venice, the son of Elisabetta Mo ...
(r. 1655-1656) and a member of the noble
Loredan family.
Biography
Paolina Loredan was born to Lorenzo Loredan and married Carlo Contarini in 1600. She was known for her decision never to appear in any public ceremonial. Described as an "immensely stout woman and unusually plain-looking",
[Staley, Edgcumbe: The dogaressas of Venice : The wives of the doges, London : T. W. Laurie, 1910 ] she was reportedly afraid that "the salutations of the populace would not partake of their usually complimentary character", and that she would have been mocked because of her appearance.
Both she and her spouse were known as the benefactors of the clergy, for which their busts were placed on the facade of the church of
San Vidal, sculptured by
Giuseppe Guoccola.
References
* Staley, Edgcumbe: '
The dogaressas of Venice : The wives of the doges', London : T. W. Laurie, 1910
17th-century Venetian people
Year of death missing
Dogaressas of Venice
Year of birth missing
17th-century Venetian women
Loredan family
{{DEFAULTSORT:Paolina Loredan