Questa serie di racconti sulle donne di Gabriele D’Annunzio si basa liberamente su scritti suoi o che si riferiscono a lui (messi tra virgolette e in corsivo). Il narratore è la fedele Aélis.
Cap 13. LE INFERMIERE : Giuditta (1)
Abbiamo avuto due donne che qui al Vittoriale si definivano infermiere del Padrone.
Una si chiamava Giuditta Franzoni, detta “fatutto”. che ai miei occhi aveva un unico pregio: non aveva mai stimolato l’immaginario erotico di Gabriele e quindi non era mai stata coinvolta in prima persona nei suoi giochi sessuali. Sembrava lieta di adorarlo e dargli un affetto fraterno.
Ma non era così ingenua e innocente, perché spesso volle sostituirsi a me per fare da tramite con le varie badesse di passaggio. Infatti mi duole ricordare che, oltre agli ordini di servizio, adorava ricevere dal Poeta anche ben diversi messaggi da recapitare alle varie amanti occasionali.
Una volta mi capitò persino di sentirla esprimere un’idea che io condivido, ma che non mi sono mai sognata di pronunciare ad alta voce, che cioè fosse “cosa virtuosissima il fatto che le donne concupite si sottomettessero con umiltà e docilità ai voleri di lui”.
Oltre che portalettere, ricevette dal Comandante anche l’incarico di individuare fuori da questo carcere dorato qualche “nido d’amore” in cui potesse “riposare” per una o più notti. Alla fine, per evitare soprattutto le obiezioni della “direttrice” della casa, Luisa Baccara, si dice che il Comandante abbia addirittura preso in affitto un appartamento in una villa, diversa dal Vittoriale e da lui chiamata semplicemente “Vittoria”. Pare fosse destinata a una sua amica di cui però non sono riuscita a sapere molto, affinché i due potessero incontrarsi in assoluta segretezza.
Presumibilmente è stato merito delle insistenti persuasioni di Giuditta se Ines Pradella, ribattezzata Fiammetta, dopo essere stata inizialmente molto restia alle avances del Vate, poi gli si concesse.
Ines aveva solo quindici anni quando fu scelta dal Cadorin per i ritratti di due sante affrescati sul soffitto della “Stanza del Lebbroso”, dopo che il pittore l’aveva scorta durante la sua passeggiata serale. L’artista le si era avvicinato e le aveva proposto di fargli da modella, precisando subito che sarebbe stato per una prestazione “senza pagamento, ma per un’esperienza indimenticabile”.
Ines rimase sbalordita per quell’incredibile offerta: quasi non riusciva a capacitarsi che il grande D’Annunzio avesse scelto proprio lei e avesse deciso di farla “partecipare alla realizzazione del tempio degli Italiani”.
Come sapete, era in questa stanza che Gabriele si ritirava ogni mese a meditare sulla mamma morta, donna Luisetta, in quel suo orribile letto che assomiglia sia a una culla che a bara, dinanzi al quadro con un S. Francesco che ha il suo stesso viso ed è rappresentato nell’atto di abbracciare un lebbroso.
So che diceva alla giovane Ines che la sua presenza “lo avvicinava ancora di più alla religione della sua terra e della sua mamma” e, quando anche a lei cambiò il nome, le espresse questo desiderio: “Fiammetta tieni viva la tua fiamma che risplenda nella notte”.
La ragazza ricevette numerosi doni, anche molto importanti come gioielli e pellicce, ma ovviamente quella prodigalità del Comandante nei suoi confronti era mal vista entro le mura del Vittoriale ed alcuni dei doni le vennero ripresi prima ancora che lasciassero quelle mura.
This series of short stories about the mistresses of Gabriele D’Annunzio is loosely based on his writings or some documents which refer to him.The narrator is his faithful Aélis.
We had two women here at the Vittoriale who were the Bard’s nurses.
One was called Giuditta Franzoni, known as a “do-it-all”, who in my eyes had only one merit: she had never stirred Gabriele’s erotic imagination and therefore she had never been personally involved in his sexual games. She seemed satisfied to adore him and give him sisterly affection.
But she wasn’t so naive and innocent, because she often replaced me and acted as an intermediary with the various “passing abbesses”. For this reason, in addition to her service orders, she also received many different messages from the Poet to deliver to his various occasional lovers. And she loved that task.
Once I even happened to hear her express an idea that I share, but which I have never dreamed of saying out loud, I mean, that it was “a very virtuous thing for those coveted women to submit with humility and docility to his will.”
In addition to being a letter carrier, she received from the Commander also the task of identifying some “love nests” outside this golden prison in which he could “rest” for one or more nights. In the end, above all to avoid the objections of the “director” of the house, Luisa Baccara, it is said that Gabriele even rented an apartment in a villa, outside the Vittoriale, simply named “Vittoria”. It seems it was intended for a special friend of his (but I wasn’t able to find out much about her), so that the two lovers could meet in absolute secrecy.
it was presumably thanks to Giuditta that Ines Pradella, renamed Fiammetta, after having initially been very reluctant to the Bard’s advances, finally yielded to him.
She was only fifteen years old when she was chosen by Cadorin for the portraits of two saints frescoed on the ceiling of the “Leper’s Room”, after the painter had seen her during his evening walk. The artist approached her and proposed that she be his model, immediately specifying that it would be “without payment, but an unforgettable experience”.
Ines was amazed by his incredible offer, proud because the great D’Annunzio had chosen her to “participate in the creation of the temple of the Italians”.
As you know, it was in this room that Gabriele retired every month to meditate on his dead mother, in that horrible bed which resembles both a cradle and a coffin, in front of the painting with a St. Francis who has the same face as him and is represented in the act of embracing a leper.
I know that he told the young Ines that her presence “brought him even closer to the religion of his land and to his mother” and, when he gave her a new name, Fiammetta, he expressed this desire : “Fiammetta, keep your flame alive so it may shine in the night”.
The girl received numerous gifts, including very important ones such as jewels and furs, but obviously the Commander’s prodigality towards her was disliked within the walls of the Vittoriale and some of the gifts were taken back from her before she even left those walls.
to be continued
Foto: La stanza del Lebbroso -https://images.app.goo.gl/rfDH5ABoWrfvtSP1A
So he wasn’t short of acolytes either
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He never lacked them, dear Derrick,😉 Neither when he was young nor when he was old
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[…] Le donne del mio Vate – ☾ XCV☽🖋️ […]
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Thanks a lot for the generous reblog 🙏
Much appreciated
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Narcissists always find a willing (or unwilling) slave to do their bidding. Sometimes, it is the only way they can earn his respect or love. But, often, that respect or love is just an illusion of carefully guarded lies and secrets. Happy Thursday Luisa. Allan
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Thank you so much, dearest Allan, for this wonderful psychological observation
I wish you a happy Thursday too🤗💞🤗
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Thank you, Luisa, for the fascinating continuation of the poet’s life events.
I like the creation of the special room and the painting of St. Francis, my favourite saint!
Joanna
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Many thanks to YOU, dearest Joanna, for your generous appreciation, which always makes me really happy🙏💖
Happy Thursday
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Thank You, dearest Luisa, and you are more than welcome, always!
Joanna x
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🙏💞🙏💞🙏
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xxx!
Joanna
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Altro capitolo molto interessante! Buon pomeriggio, Luisa carissima 🌹
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Grazie mille, cara Dani🌹🌹🌹
Il tuo apprezzamento mi dona un grande piacere
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❤🌹❤
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The Mister is sinister. Vate must confuse himself with Fate. Fascinating chapter in the saga.
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Thanks a lot for your comment, which is a sort of lovely little rhyming couplet 🥰🥰🥰
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My pleasure, I was intrigued by Once I even happened to hear her express an idea that I share, but which I have never dreamed of saying out loud, I mean, that it was “a very virtuous thing for those coveted women to submit with humility and docility to his will.” Talk about brain washing.
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The narrator of these stories is his faithful maid Aélis, lover and procurer of women, who ultimately suffered a lot from being almost always relegated to the background
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I realize that. It was Aelis quoting the other woman with a thought that she (Aelis) often had but never dared say aloud.
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👍👍👍
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sono arrivata 101 esima 😀
Anche se non sempre commento questa storia mi appassiona e la leggo sempre, magari più capitoli alla volta
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Grazie di cuore, carissima Mi
Ti confesso che all’inizio si trattava solo di una manciata di capitoli, scritti tempo fa. iniziati come i “racconti della serva” sul suo famoso padrone 😉
… ma poi mi sono messa a rivederli, ampliarli… e le ricerche mi hanno preso la mano🥰
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e va benissimo!
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🙏💞🙏
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That’s not sisterly love, Giuditta had a very strange relationship with him. He sure attracted the odd ones.
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You can say that!
D’Annunzio, however, did not only attract the odd ones: he had an (inexplicable) charm by which most women were easily and voluptuously subjugated.😇
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Nice post 💓🌷
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another fascinating tale, my friend. Always engrossing.
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Thanks a lot, my dearest Shey.
You’re always so kind 🤗💖🤗
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Not at all. I love your blog.
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You’re sincerely welcome 💐
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I very much enjoy the detail that you provide in your writing, Luisa. I look forward to everyone of your posts.
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That’s very kind of you, dear Rebecca💖
Thanks a lot for your generous appreciation
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Buona serata
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Gabriele seems very self absorbed to me but then he had many admirers
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To be honest.the poet Gabriele D’Annunzio was quite egocentric and narcissistic
Thanks a lot for your nice feedback
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💯
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Ciao, ho piacevolmente scoperto il tuo blog complimenti! Questi racconti sono davvero bellissimi, li sto recuperando ora 🤗
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Sono felice che tu abbia scoperto il mio blog e ti ringrazio tanto per l’apprezzamento. Spero che tu non resti delusa
🙏💞🙏
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Sono sicura di no 💪🤍
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Grazie ancora e buon sabato 💐
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A te 😘
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Il Vate si fa anche le minorenni
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Non penso che si facesse molti problemi riguardo l’età (e l’eticità) 😉
Buon sabato, caro Gian
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Credo proprio di no
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Ines! The poor thing was manipulated before she was old enough to understand what was happening.
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D’Annunzio was truly a great manipulator, skilled and subtle like few others 👍💖
Thanks a lot for sharing your opinion
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BUONA DOMENICA
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Buona domenica anche a te 💐
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GRAZIE MILLE LUISA
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Quante donne si sono avvicendate nella sua vita, sembrerebbe che non se ne sia lasciato sfuggire neppure una.
Grazie, Luisa carissima, per queste preziose ricostruzioni.
Un abbraccio affettuoso 🤗🙏🏻💙👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
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Sono io a ringraziare te per il tuo caro apprezzamento!
Hai ragione, le donne erano per lui soddisfazione dei sensi e fonte di ispirazione creativa‼️
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Ti ringrazio e ti auguro una buona serata ‼️
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Buona serata anche a te 💞💙💞
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💞💙💞
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