Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia

Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia

              Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia was born in Venice on June 5, 1646 and died in Padua on July 26, 1684 at age 38, a very short life to have accomplished so much learning and honor.  Facts of her life are straight forward enough after we decide on her first name.  The commemorative volume edited in 1975 as the tercentenary of her life lists Elena as her given name but the Latin of the great stained glass window   in the library of Vassar College   ordered by the class of 1906 tells us her name is Helena.  I shall use Elena as her given name.  The addition of “Piscopia” many centuries earlier was in recognition of money given by the family to the Queen to win a war and she rewarded the Cornaro family with a castle called Piscopia, which was added to the name.

                  Now for the family of the 17^th century.  Elena’s father after a wild youth married a woman of no family background or good personal reputation.  She did mother 5 children, among them our hero Elena.  Elena’s father eventually bought a Procurator office in Venice, a city that appreciated learning.  And Elena loved to learn.  About 1672 – 16 years old, she wrote her father from Padua, “With the joy of my studies, the salubrity of the air, and the diligent care of the physicians, I feel much stronger; therefore, I hope that in the future  I may resume my studies and thus rescue the name of our House from extinction and oblivion.”

                 The parish priest of Saint Luke’s in Venice had discovered that Elena Lucrezia was truly a prodigy.  “At seven she had exhibited marvelous reasoning powers, an astonishing memory and a noble soul.”  She was tutored in grammar, music, Latin, Greek, English Spanish.  She had classes in mathematics, and became an expert musician, a charming soprano and played the harp, harpsichord, and violin and composed music.   She especially loved her theological studies; she learned Hebrew to augment her studies.

              In 1672 Elena Lucrezia moved from Venice to the Palazzo Cornaro in Padua to be closer to the University of Padua, one of the most famous centers of learning in Europe.  Her father readily consented to the move.  He seems to have relished the reflected fame as her parent when scientists, bishops, cardinals and princes from many countries came to Venice, and then Padua, to see and hear the phenomenal young woman.  She had mastered almost the entire body of knowledge of the 17^th century.  Furthermore, her mother’s ill-tempered influence had become intolerable.  He provided her in Padua with servants, tutors and female companions.  She continued to learn through celebrated theologians.  She wanted peace and an inner spiritual life as an oblate of the Benedictine Order.  Her father wanted public proof of the extensive and profound learning by defending a rigorous examination leading to a theology degree.  She prepared herself for the doctorate.  There was one problem.  The Ecclesiastical Authority said “No Way” would a female become a teacher of theology.  “Never!” replied the cardinal and that was that.  He told her father,  “Woman is made for motherhood, not for learning.  However. . . I am willing to modify the point and let his daughter become a Doctor of Philosophy.”

              Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia accepted the concession of the Cardinal; date set for June 5, 1678.  That was the date of pilgrims from all over the counties to celebrate the feast of Saint Anthony; another date, Saturday, June 25, 1678.  She hated the whole idea; her modesty deplored public display of her amazing learning.  Hundreds of scholars, government officials and others sought admission so the examination was transferred from Padua University to the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin.  She answered question after question with brilliant replies.  Sometimes cheers and applause burst forth.  The audience refused to take a vote; they declared in a voice vote to raise her immediately to the dignity of Master and Doctor of Philosophy.  She was invested with an Ermine Cape and a Doctor’s Ring was placed on her finger.

Very, very sadly she did not enjoy a long life.  Over 30 years she had served the poor, the sick, the orphans and all those    in need.  At age 38, July 25, 1684 she died.   All in Venice and Padua mourned and sighed, “The saint is dead.”

              My information is contained in Elena Lucretia Cornaro Piscopia 1646-1684, by the United States Committee for the Elena Lucretia Cornaro Piscopia Tercentenary, University of Pittsburgh, 114p.  1000 copies printed.  Monsignor Nicola Fusco, P. A. wrote the chapters.  Again confusion reigns.  The inscription on the wall of the Italian Room of the University of Pittsburgh gives her name as Helena Lucretia!  Further confusion exists as on page 87 we read the “accepted English punctuation in the translation” of the record of questions and answers, printed in 1912 and 1975 by Abbess Matilda Pynsent identifies her subject as Helen Lucretia whose life spanned  from 1646 to 1684.

               The American Association of University Women has made a concerted effort since its beginning in the 19^th century to encourage learning and its members have provided many women with awards leading to advanced degrees, first in Europe and then in the United States.