"I will show your Excellency what a woman can do"

[Giovanna Clairval]

"I will show your Excellency what a woman can do," said the 16th century Italian painter Artemisia Gentileschi to one of her patrons.


Almost all female artists (even those who were famous in their own times) have fallen into oblivion, but their much underrated work begins to be recognised.

An exposition at the Palazzo Reale in Milan (from the Renaissance to Surrealism), one in Washington (from Renaissance to Baroque), another (impressionists) to be held in Frankfurt,..., all focuse on women.


Here is my tribute to the great Artemisia:

"Allegoria della Pittura" (Allegory of Painting) (1638-39).

[Giovanna Clairval]

Women were considered capable of painting only portraits and imitative poses. In contrast with this tradition, Artemisia Gentileschi painted powerful scenes.

After her death, her paintings were attributed to her father or other artists.


From Wikipedia: "(1651-1653), today considered one of the most accomplished painters in the generation influenced by Caravaggio. In an era when women painters were not easily accepted by the artistic community, she was the first female painter to become a member of the Accademia d'Arte del disegno in Florence. She was also one of the first female artists to paint historical and religious paintings, at a time when such heroic themes were considered beyond a woman's reach."


Judith Slaying Holophernes (Uffizi version), circa 1620

.

[Giovanna Clairval]

Three centuries later, Georgia O'Keefe said:

"The men liked to put me down as the best woman painter. I think I'm one of the best painters."


This is Red Canna

[Giovanna Clairval]

1) Giovanna Garzoni (1600-1670)
One of the first women to paint still life studies, her paintings were popular. She worked at the court of the Duke of Alcala, the court of the Duke of Savoy and in Florence where members of the Medici family were patrons. She was official court painter for the Grand Duke Ferdinando II.

This is poster of one of her still life paintings

"A Bowl with Peas and Two Roses"

2) Judith Leyster (1609-1660): A Dutch painter who had her own workshop and students, she produced most of her paintings before she married the painter Jan Miense Molenaer. Her work was confused with that of Frans and Dirck Hals until her rediscovery at the end of the 19th century and subsequent interest in her life and work.

"Jolly Toper" (1629)

[HardScienceFan]

darn,this is ******* unbeliveable

i was just going to post some Garzoni

[Giovanna Clairval]

Thank you, Ben. These are splendid. I had never seen the one with the hedgehog.

Did you know that "hedgehog" and the spiky coat around the chestnut (whassitcalled in AAAAnglish) are both called RICCIO in Italian (a little homonymy that Giovanna Garzoni represented here)?

[HardScienceFan]

all talented women are called Giovanna,it seems.
Mr Moderator,ban me please.
Excess flattery
a capital crime
I stand accused

some MSM

[Giovanna Clairval]

Very beautiful! Thank you, Ben, for sharing.


Josefa de Ayala (Josefa de Óbidos) (1630-1684): A Portuguese artist, Josefa de Ayala painted a wide variety of themes, from portraits and still life paintings to religion and mythology.


Take a look at the expressions on the faces. You will never see those on Italian baroque paintings of the Nativity.

[HardScienceFan]

Charley Toorop

Self portarit with children

[Giovanna Clairval]

Strong, very strong. Powerful!

It's an anti-conformist's way of rendering a traditional area for female painters: the portrait.

[j. d. worthington]

Beautiful work -- and (save for the O'Keefe) mostly things I've never seen. Thanks for bringing these in and exposing me to them... and by all means, keep it going!

[murphy]

Originally Posted by j. d. worthington

Beautiful work (snip) Thanks for bringing these in and exposing me to them... and by all means, keep it going!

Ditto that. Loved looking at the art.

[Talysia]

How beautiful! It's great to see such art on here. Thanks, Ben and Giovanna!

[Giovanna Clairval]

Thank you, fellow Chrons.

There are lots of exhibitions on female painters around the world as we write, so I thought our favourite forum should tune in.



1) Lavinia Fontana (1552-1614)

"Ritratto di una nobildonna" (Portrait of a Noblewoman)

It is (probably) the portrait of a Bolognese woman in her wedding gown. Red was the traditional wedding colour, as in classical Rome. In fact, the custom of wearing white dresses is very recent; white became popular in the nineteenth century.

2) And another painting by Josefa de Ayala (Josefa de Óbidos) (1630-1684)

So graceful...

[HardScienceFan]

i need help
my browser has been hijacked

it might be a very very very very very long time before i am back

maybe never