Leonardo da Vinci and his paintings Renaissance love

This article isnt about Gioconda or The Last Supper. Its true that the titles are the most common ones that anyone can mention if they are asked. How many of you heard about The Lady with Ermine? While I was extending my general knowledge on wikipedia I saw this title that actually kept my attention. After some hours of documentation I found out some interesting information and I am going to point the nuts and bolts in order to get your attention. Da Vinci painted only four female portraits during his life (and this one, according to my way of thinking is the most beautiful). At the moment, its exposed in Cracovia, Poland. Obviously, I could talk about the art technique but isnt a pleasure (even for me). The only reason I brought this art subject is because the woman in the portrait had a different life, worthy of fairy tales. She was born in 1473; a period when women couldnt impose too much their own intelligence on political thoughts. At age of 10 she was known for her poetry and for scholarship; but, to avoid moving to a monastery because of her parents, she married Stefano Viscontini, a nobleman. In 1487 they split for unknown reason. For Cecilia, this was the life escape she was looking for. At age of 15 she met Ludovico Sfortza, the Duke of Milan and she became his secret lover, his mistress. The portrait represents Cecilia at this age: a beautiful and intelligent woman. Also, her beauty threatened to cause political upheaval. The Duke was betrothed for a long time with Duke of Ferraras daughter, a marriage which would unite two of the most important families in Renaissance. Ludovico described his mistress as being as beautiful as a flower, while Ferraras daughter mentioned her as a pleasing little thing. The most interesting part of the portrait that got my attention was the ermine. It might symbolize Sfortzas family blazon but it also carry some hidden actions. The ermine appeared in art as an emblem of pregnancy and childbirth. The fact is true, since Cecilia gave birth to Ludovicos son in 1490. The end of their love affair its not a good will overcome evil- one. She moved out of Ludovicos castle when he got married, but she met a nobleman from Cremona, a village near Milan. She had 5 children and died at age of 63. We can say that she was happyin the end of the story. Her life its an example for us. Who said back then that love didnt exist?