Book by Lauretta Colonnelli Reveals Hidden Women Behind Art History

Lauretta Colonnelli's book "Le muse nascoste" (Giunti, 2020) reclaims the identities of women who served as muses to great artists, transforming them from silent figures in paintings into fully realized individuals. Through meticulous archival research and anecdotal storytelling, Colonnelli profiles figures like Simonetta Cattaneo, lover of Giuliano de' Medici and Botticelli's model for Venus; Sophie Gray, subject of Millais's uncomfortable portrait; Alma Mahler, who inspired Kokoschka's obsessive "Bride of the Wind"; Costanza Bonarelli, Bernini's lover turned Medusa; and Hortense Fiquet, Cézanne's patient wife. The book gives voice to women who were often overshadowed, used, or forgotten, revealing their authentic personalities—rebellious, devoted, or complex. Colonnelli, a writer and journalist, combines art history with human stories, offering a new perspective on masterpieces by Tiziano, Botticelli, Matisse, Bernini, Cézanne, Kokoschka, Hopper, and others. The 240-page volume is published by Giunti, Milan, priced at €29.