Minghetti, Donna Laura

Italian socialite and wife of two-time Prime Minister, Marco Minghetti. She held the painting in her famous Roman Salon for her daughter, Maria. Minghetti allowed the painting to be sold to American millionaire turned excavator turned art collector, Theodore Davis, as an authentic Leonardo. However, a letter from a close friend about the transaction reveals Donna Laura was aware that Morelli had not attributed the painting as a Leonardo Da Vinci (see Lady Layard's Letter).

Seybold, Dietrich. "Circle of Morelli or The Three Lives of Donna Laura Minghetti - a Visual Biography." Microstory of Art, 4 Dec. 2015. Web. Accessed March 2016. http://www.seybold.ch/Dietrich/Spotlight5CircleOfMorelliOrTheThreeLivesOfDonnaLauraMinghetti

Donna Laura was born as Laura Acton, and descended from Sir John Acton, a well-known Prime Minister of the two Sicilies. She was a lively child, and entered a Neopolitan nun convent at twelve years old. As a teenager she traveled in many circles and made friends that included royalty and future artistic scholars. At 18 years old, Laura married Domenico Beccadelli di Bologna, and entered high society life between Palermo and Naples. After 16 years of marriage, Laura became a widow in 1863. One year later she married the 46-year-old statesman Marco Minghetti. He resigned from prime ministership a few weeks later, after the September Convention (a treaty between France and Italy signed on September 15, 1864 under which Napoleon III withdrew all French troops from Rome within two years).

In 1871, the Minghetti's moved to Rome, and Donna Laura's famous salon was put in place at piazza Paganica. Her salon was called the "most popular in Rome" by Ferdinand Gregorovius, a German historian (Seybold). Donna Laura's charm, accomplishments, charisma, and flirtatious disposition allowed her to collect a cohort of high society members that would gather in her salon. Lillie de Hegermann-Lindencrone, a trained singer and diplomat's wife, stated that "Rome flocks there to hear music and to admire the artistic manner in which the rooms are arranged; flirtations are rife in the twilit corners, in which the salon abounds. As Madame Minghetti is very musical and appreciative, all the people one meets there pretend to be musical and appreciative, and do not talk or flirt during the music" (Seybold).

In 1886, Marco Minghetti died, leaving Donna Laura Minghetti a widow for the second time. Morelli was Marco's most intimate friend, and performed the closing of Minghetti's eyes. Donna Laura was then supported by Francesco Brioschi, a family friend. When Morelli died in 1891, she inherited the 'Donna Laura Minghetti Leonardo.' In 1898, the work was sold to the American millionaire turned archaeological excavator / art collector, Theodore Davis, as an authentic Leonardo DaVinci. However, a letter from a close friend about the transaction reveals Donna Laura was aware that Morelli had not attributed the painting as a Leonardo Da Vinci (see Lady Layard's Letter). Donna Laura died at Mezzarratta on September 12, 1915.

1829

Naples, Italy

September 12, 1915

Italian stateswoman and mistress of cultural hub

Descended from Sir John Acton, married to Marco Minghetti (two-time Italian Prime Minister)

When Morelli died in 1891, she inherited the 'Donna Laura Minghetti Leonardo.' In 1898 the work was sold to Theodore Davis as an authentic Leonardo DaVinci. However, a letter from a close friend about the transaction reveals Donna Laura was aware that Morelli had not attributed the painting as a Leonardo Da Vinci (see Lady Layard's Letter).