Gentile Bellini
Caterina Cornaro, Queen of Cyprus

Caterina Cornaro was one of the most important women in the history of Venice.

As the daughter of a rich and respected patrician family, she was married off to the King of Cyprus at the age of 14. It was a shrewd move. For Venice, as a trading power looking to expand its influence in the eastern Mediterranean, the island of Cyprus was important. 

Four years after the wedding, which the groom had not attended in person, Caterina finally left Venice and moved to Cyprus. But less than eight months after her arrival, her husband died... and the Maritime Republic of Venice rejoiced. It forced Caterina –Queen of Cyprus – to abdicate and itself took over the administration of this strategically important island.

Caterina was compensated with a prestigious estate in the small town of Asolo near Venice. The disempowered queen lived there surrounded by scholars and artists and organised festivals with plays and tournaments.

Gentile Bellini's portrait of Caterina Cornaro dates from that period. Gentile, who was Giovanni Bellini's older brother, depicts Caterina as a very dignified individual against a background of deepest black. She's looking to one side, making no contact with us and displaying no hint of emotion. She appears as if trapped by the severity of her portrait.

Caterina Cornaro had – albeit involuntarily – helped her home city of Venice to gain control of Cyprus and set the seal on its supremacy in the eastern Mediterranean. She was deployed as a bargaining chip in a game of economic and military power. As to her individuality and personality – well, they didn't particularly matter to the portrait painter.

The piece of music you're hearing is called "Non si vedra gia mai" ("You will never see") – and is a reference to Caterina's court in Asolo. The composer, Antonio Caprioli, took passages from what's known as the "Asolani" – reflections on love set at Caterina Cornaro's court – and set them to music.