Patrizio
Patrizio (died 1506) was a Roman noble who lived in a palazzo in the Vaticano district of Rome, just north-east of the piazza leading to the Basilica di San Pietro.
History
At some point between 1497 and 1503, Patrizio was in a relationship with Lucrezia Borgia, daughter of Pope Alexander VI. When the Pope died on the August 18th 1503, Lucrezia left Rome to live with her third husband, Alfonso I d'Este, the Duke of Ferrara, in his city. Some time prior, assumably soon before she left, she gave Patrizio a portrait by Leonardo da Vinci to remember their love.
In 1506, Patrizio was visited in his palazzo's courtyard by Ercole Massimo, leader of the Hermeticists, to discuss the purchase of this portrait. At first, Patrizio seemed willing to be rid of the portrait, however, as they discussed the portrait's history, Patrizio became angered at the memory how Lucrezia had seduced him into loving her before abandoning him, and decided that the painting did not deserve to belong to anyone.
As he threw it on the ground and prepared to destroy it, Ercole intervened and had one of his men stab Patrizio in the back to stop him. The noble died quickly, and the painting was taken from him.
Gallery
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Patrizio's final moments.
Source
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