Giorgio Vasari Rooms of Penelope, Esther, Gualdrada, Sabines at the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence in Italy

The four rooms called Penelope, Esther, Gualdrada and Sabines correspond to the apartments of Duchess Eleonora of Toledo, Cosimo I of Medici’s wife.

Giorgio Vasari, Ceiling of the room of Penelope at the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence in Italy

Vasari, Room of Penelope These rooms were decorated to celebrate the Duchess by taking the image of virtuous women of the past.

Penelope, the symbol of loyalty to her husband, is a model to follow for a mother and wife.

Gualdrada, the beautiful Florentine whose virtue is cited in Dante's “Divine Comedy”, is depicted refusing to kiss a man who is not her future husband. And yet this man is not just anyone since he is Emperor Otto IV!

Sabine Ersilia, with the help of her companions, avoids war between their Roman husbands and their Sabin fathers.

And finally, Esther asking mercy on the king, her husband, in favour of the Hebrews.

So many feminine virtues awarded to Duchess Eleonora of Toledo and praised in the paintings made here by Giorgio Vasari and Giovanni Stradano.

Vasari, Room of Penelope

Penelope at the loom

Room of Sabines

The Sabines women

Gualdrada Room Ceiling

Esther Room Ceiling

Giorgio Vasari, Esther begs King Ahasuerus to halt the massacre of the Jews, Palazzo Vecchio in Florence in Italy.

Esther begs Ahasuerus