Francesca Lechi

Francesca Ghirardi Lechi (1773–1806) was an Italian revolutionary and figure in Milanese society. She was nicknamed "Fanni."

Early life Lechi was born in Brescia, Lombardy and was a member of the noble . She was the daughter of Count Faustino Lechi of Brescia and Countess Doralice Bielli and had five brothers: General Giuseppe Lechi (1766–1836), Angelo Lechi (1769–1850), Bernardino Lechi (1775–1869), General Teodoro Lechi (1778–1866) and (1786–1867).

Lechi was educated at the College of Salò, then at Collegio Castiglioni Brugnatelli in Pavia. The flag was to be hoisted in Broletto by her brother Giuseppe during the Brescian revolution, activity which lead to the creation of the Republic of Brescia, a temporary French client republic, on 18 March 1797. This symbol of Italian unification later became the tricolour flag of Italy.

Lechi moved with her husband to Milan, where she became a society figure and loved to dress as an Amazon warrior or her literary heroes at balls. and followed him to Paris before returning to her husband.

Lechi died in 1806.

Representations A miniature portrait of Lechi on ivory, by , which shows her bare-breasted in a provocative pose, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.