Caterina da Venzone

Persona

Caterina da Venzone is a Venetian courtesan of small fame. She was born in 1539 to a courtesan; she does not know the identity of her father. Her surname indicates her family's origins in the town of Venzone in Udine (northeast of the Veneto); they migrated to Venice in the 13th century to work as silk weavers. Her grandmother became a courtesan as financial difficulties made a dowry impossible, and her daughter (Caterina's mother) followed in her footsteps.

Caterina was well cared for by servants but little seen or heard until she became of an age to train in the family business, studying music, dance, Latin, French, rhetoric, poetry, and similar arts. Known as "La Tempesta," she quickly gained a reputation for her fiery temper and unusual height.

After the death of her mother, she joined a small establishment of courtesans known as Bella Donna. In 1565, in order to avoid yet another plague summer, they traveled to England in the company of the Venetian ambassador. She currently remains at the English court, where she attempts to find any patron who might help her to travel east towards home. Until she can return to Venice, she counts herself lucky to be a member of Chateau Rose.

SCA

Caterina lives in the Province of the Mists. Her primary focus is on costume, chronicling her sewing adventures at Demode. She enjoys most aspects of history and as such, is fond of persona play; she is particularly fascinated by clothing as social history. While she is only an SCA dabbler, she has been involved in historical recreation for a number of years. She regularly performs at Renaissance faires with Bella Donna Venetian Courtesans.

Websites

• Demode