CAMPIGLIA, MADDALENA.
Was a native of Vicenza, and born in 1550. She was educated in a nunnery, and celebrated for her literary talents. She dedicated one of her works to Torquato Tassa, with whom she corresponded. She wrote, among other works, "Azione Dramatica," published in 1588. Her death occurred in 1595.
CANTARINI, CHIARA,
Was born in Lucca, where she always resided. She was well versed in history and philosophy, and held an extensive correspondence with the learned men of her time. A collection of her "Poems," and a volume of her "Letters," have been published. She died in 1597.
CANTOFOLI, GENEVRA,
A Female artist of Bologna, pupil of Elizabeth Sirani. She practised historical painting with success; and in the church of St. Procolo, in Bologna, is a picture by her of the Lord's Supper, of which good judges speak favourably, as they do of some of her other altar-pieces; particularly of St. Tommaso di Villanuovo, in St. Giacomo Maggiore. Her personal history is unknown. She lived in the seventeenth century.
CAPELLO, BIANCA,
Descended from the noble house of the Capelli, at Venice, and daughter of Bartolomeo Capello, was born in 1545. Opposite to her father's house, the Salviatti, a great mercantile family of Florence, had established a bank, and entrusted the care of it to Pietro Buonaventuri, a Florentine youth of obscure extraction, whom they had engaged as clerk. Buonaventuri, handsome, adventurous, and addicted to intrigue, gained the affections of Bianca, whom he deceived by representing himself as one of the principals in the bank. After their intercourse had been carried on for some time in secresy, the effects of it became such as could not be concealed, and to avoid the terrors of a life-long imprisonment in a cloister, Bianca resolved to elope with her lover. Taking a casket of jewels that belonged to her father, she left Venice by night, and at length safely arrived with Buonaventuri at Florence, and was lodged in his father's house, where she gave birth to a daughter. She had been married to Buonaventuri on the road, at a village near Bologna. She lived for some time with her husband in obscurity, continually under apprehensions of being discovered by emissaries from Venice, where her elopement had excited great indignation, not only in her family, but among all the aristocracy. The uncle of her husband, who was accused of having been aware of his nephew's presumption, was thrown into a dungeon, where he died; and Bianca's attendant and confidant, whom they had neglected to take with them, met with a fate equally severe.
At length accident, or contrivance, introduced her to the notice of Francis, son of Francis, Grand-duke of Tuscany, on whom his father had devolved all the powers and dignity of the sovereignty. The wonderful beauty and engaging manners of Bianca made such an impression on Francis, that he offered to protect her, negociated
