Features of Lavinia Fontana's art. Lavinia Fontana. Lavinia Fontana (August 24, 1552 – August 11, 1614) was a Bolognese Mannerist painter active in Bologna and Rome. Fontana was born in Bologna, Italy in 1552. Her Visit of the Queen of Sheba to Solomon is her most ambitious surviving narrative work. She was the daughter of Prospero Fontana (1512-1579), a prestigious Bolognese painter with whom she trained and worked. Lavinia Fontana (August 24, 1552 – August 11, 1614) was an Italian painter. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Meet extraordinary women who dared to bring gender equality and other issues to the forefront. Therein she is elegantly dressed in lace and jewels and studying archeological finds on shelves and a table, likely as preparation for sketching them. 1 The only modern biography of Lavinia Fontana is Romeo Galli, Lavinia Fontana, Pittrice (1552-1614), Imola 1940. Unlike most female artists of the period, Lavinia received encouragement at home, where her father taught her to paint. Take for instance Lavinia Fontana. the mother and son from classic mythology who superintend passion and infatuation. Lavinia Fontana était une femme peintre, originaire de Bologne, qui a connu un grand succès de son vivant. Unlike most female artists of the period, Lavinia received encouragement at home, where her father taught her to paint. Artist biography: Lavinia Fontana was born in Bologna, Italy in 1552. The attention to detail in her portraits is reminiscent of the work of another northern Italian Renaissance painter, Sofonisba Anguissola. Lavinia Fontana is known for Portrait painting, mannerism. They didn’t know each other, either. Lavinia Fontana se forme dans l'atelier de son père, où elle rencontre les artistes et les mécènes de la ville . Her family relied on her career as a painter, and her husband served as her agent and rai… Prospero Fontana fut également un professeur réputé qui enseigna à Agostino et Ludovico Carracci. Lavinia Fontana (August 24, 1552 – August 11, 1614) was an Italian painter. Lavinia Fontana (August 24, 1552 – August 11, 1614) was an Italian painter. Of her 135 works—the largest corpus of artwork by any woman from the Renaissance or before—only 32 are signed and dated. Lavinia Fontana, (born 1552, Bologna [Italy]—died August 11, 1614, Rome), Italian painter of the Mannerist school and one of the most important portraitists in Bologna during the late 16th century. Biographie. Copyright © 2020 LoveToKnow. She was the daughter of Prospero Fontana, a leading Bolognese exponent of Mannerism. In addition to the medal already discussed in the article, Fontana is the subject of Portrait of a Woman, 1595 by Paolo Veronese (Cheney, et al 2000). In addition, in 1589 she painted the altarpiece Holy Family with the Sleeping Christ Child for El Escorial in Madrid. Lavinia Fontana, Self-Portrait with the Spinet Accompanied by a Handmaiden (1577). Lavinia was an artist more complete then Sofonisba who, on the other hand, was maybe a more refined intellectual. Lavinia Fontana (August 24, 1552 – August 11, 1614) was a Bolognese Mannerist painter best known for her portraiture. Fontana was the first woman artist to paint female nudes, and possibly the first female to use live nude female models. Corrections? The Art Newspaper is the journal of record for the visual arts world, covering international news and events. Lavinia Fontana (August 24, 1552 – August 11, 1614) was a Bolognese Mannerist painter active in Bologna and Rome. Lavinia was trained by her father and followed his Mannerist style. She was one of the first women to execute large, publicly commissioned figure paintings. She was also the main breadwinner of a family of 13. A producer of over 135 sophisticated oil paintings, Lavinia Fontana (1552- 1614) was one of the first female portraitists to seek commissions. Son père, Prospero Fontana (1512-1597), était un peintre maniériste qui travailla pour le pape Jules III et à la réalisation des fresques du Palazzo Vecchio de Florence avec Giorgio Vasari. Biography of FONTANA, Lavinia (b. Lavinia Fontana, Self-Portrait with the Spinet Accompanied by a Handmaiden (1577). Lavinia Fontana's brief biography in Malvasia's Felsina pittrice states quite explicitly that the major reason for her success as a painter in Bologna was the kind of clientele that she could command.2 First, Malvasia gives primary importance to her relationship with the Boncompagni family, who gave her He was willing to subordinate his career to her own; he also became her agent. Painted the following year, "Portrait of a Noblewoman" depicts a standing female figure holding a decoratively jeweled marten skin and absently petting a lap dog. Her earliest known work, … By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. All Rights Reserved. Creator: Lavinia Fontana; Date Created: 1552/1614; Physical Dimensions: w724 x h971 mm (Without frame) Artist biography: Lavinia Fontana was born in Bologna, Italy in 1552. She is regarded as the first woman artist, working within the same sphere as her male counterparts, outside a court or convent. Sofonisba Anguissola (1535-1625) and Lavinia Fontana (1552-1614) are two artists I didn’t know. Even within the responsibilities of being a mother of eleven children, she achieved much in style and work. Lavinia Fontana (1552 - 1614) was active/lived in Italy. In addition to the medal already discussed in the article, Fontana is the subject of Portrait of a Woman, 1595 by Paolo Veronese (Cheney, et al 2000). She is regarded as the number one female career artist in Western Europe as she relied on commissions for her income. Her earliest known work, " … In 1604 she painted her largest work, the Martyrdom of St. Stephen, an altarpiece for San Paolo Fuori le Mura in Rome, a basilica that was destroyed in the fire of 1823. Fontana was the most successful woman of the Bolognese painters in her time. Lavinia Fontana est l'unique enfant de Prospero Fontana, peintre de la contre-réforme très en vogue auprès des papes. She is regarded as the first female career artist in Western Europe as she relied on commissions for her income. Popes Gregory XIII and Clement VIII each posed for her in ceremonial regalia and the Vatican offered her commissions normally contracted to male artists. A producer of over 135 sophisticated oil paintings, Lavinia Fontana (1552-1614) was one of the first female portraitists to seek commissions. She was the daughter of Prospero Fontana (1512-1579), a prestigious Bolognese painter with whom she trained and worked. Such qualities are reflected in Fontana's self-portrait that now hangs in the Uffizi Gallery at Florence. Sofonisba Anguissola (1535-1625) and Lavinia Fontana (1552-1614) are two artists I didn’t know. This worldly renowned artist, was born in the late sixteenth century at a time where women had very little clout when it came to expressing themselves through art. Her prolific body of work encompasses numerous categories of art, including single and group portraits, church altar art, and narrative and historic scenes. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lavinia-Fontana, Virtual Uffizi Gallery - Biography of Lavinia Fontana, Lavinia Fontana - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The city’s prosperous economic and social situation account for the prominent role of women in its cultural, religious, social and artistic life. In 1603, after her father's death, Fontana was a recipient of a rare honor, particularly for a female artist, when Pope Clement VIIII summoned her to an audience in the papal palace. By the time she reached her thirties, Fontana was respected as a painter of devotional art. She is regarded as the first woman artist, working within the same sphere as her male counterparts, outside a court or convent. Lavinia Fontana. She was the daughter of Prospero Fontana (1512 – 1597), an accomplished and well traveled artist of the Bolognese School. Son père est peintre de la contre-réforme très en vogue auprès des papes. Her large and renowned body of work encompasses several genres, including altarpieces, history paintings, and portraits. Lavinia Fontana was born in Bologna, the daughter of the painter Prospero Fontana, who was a prominent painter of the School of Bologna at the time and served as her teacher. Art critics surmise that Zappi also painted some of the drapery and background in Fontana's paintings. She was elected a member of the Roman Academy, a rare honour for a woman. This extensively illustrated book is the first comprehensive study of Fontana in the English language. She was the first woman artist to paint female nudes, and was the main breadwinner of a family of 13. Renaissance painter Lavinia Fontana was commissioned to make not only portraits, the typical subject matter for women painters, but also religious and mythological themes, which sometimes included female nudes. She is regarded as the first female career artist in Western … Biography Lavinia Fontana was born in Bologna, the daughter of the painter Prospero Fontana, who was a prominent painter of the School of Bologna at the time and served as her teacher. Venturing beyond traditional still lifes and set poses into high drama, she painted mythic and biblical figures on a grand scale and used as models female and male nudes. Continuing the family business was typical at the time. The painting, now housed in Florence's Uffizi Gallery, captures the rapt attention of a familiar bible figure moved by a glimpse of Christ. The earlier literature cited in this work should be supplemented by reference to Anne Sutherland Harris and Linda Nochlin, Women Artists, 155o-195o, New York 1976, pp. She was trained by her father Prospero Fontana who was a teacher at the School of Bologna. 4 pages. She was one of the first women to execute large, publicly commissioned figure paintings. She enjoyed the patronage of the family of Pope Gregory XIII and painted the likenesses of many eminent people. Fontana studied with her father, Prospero Fontana (c. 1512–97), a minor painter of the school of Bologna, who taught his daughter to paint in the Mannerist style. Lavinia was trained by her father and followed his Mannerist style. Lavinia FONTANA (1552-1614) is an artist born in 1552 The oldest auction result ever registered on the website for an artwork by this artist is a painting sold in 1988, at Phillips , and the most recent auction result is a painting sold in 2020. Lavinia Fontana (August 24 1552-August 11 1614) was an Italian painter.. Her large and renowned body of work encompasses several genres, including altarpieces, history paintings, and portraits. Continuing the family business was typical at the time. It is known that the artist played spinet (a smaller type of clavichord) and could read Latin. She is known as the first woman artist to paint female nudes. Omissions? Fontana excelled at the depiction of the female form, either alone or in groups, as exemplified in "Portrait of the Gozzadini Family" (1584), a psychologically complex grouping. Elle était la fille de Prospero Fontana (1512-1597), … 1552, Bologna, d. 1614, Roma) in the Web Gallery of Art, a searchable image collection and database of European art and architecture (200-1900) Biography of Lavinia Fontana . Lavinia Fontana (August 24, 1552 – August 11, 1614) was an Italian painter. She was the first woman artist to paint female nudes, and was the main breadwinner of a family of 13. She is regarded as the first woman artist, working within the same sphere as her male counterparts, outside a court or convent. Other articles where Martyrdom of St. Stephen is discussed: Lavinia Fontana: …painted her largest work, the Martyrdom of St. Stephen, an altarpiece for San Paolo Fuori le Mura in Rome, a basilica that was destroyed in the fire of 1823. "Lavinia Fontana," http://www.nmwa.org/legacy/bios/bfontana.htm (January 15, 2002). The obverse pictures her in profile; the reverse depicts her as the symbolic female artist, too immersed in her work to tame her flowing hair. She was elected a member… Lavinia Fontana’s early years are comparable to those of most women artists. Voir plus d'idées sur … In 1581 she completed "Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalen" in the balanced dark-against-light style of Antonio Correggio. She was the first Bolognese female to earn renown throughout Italy. Son père est peintre de la contre-réforme très en vogue auprès des papes. Lavinia Fontana est l'unique enfant de Prospero Fontana et d'Antonia de' Bonardis. Tweet. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Fontana's work was lucrative enough to support her family. Lavinia Fontana (August 24, 1552 – August 11, 1614) was a Bolognese Mannerist painter best known for her portraiture. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1997. This extensively illustrated book is the first comprehensive study of Fontana in the English language. She is regarded as the first female career artist in Western Europe as she relied on commissions for her income. Unlike most female artists of the period, Lavinia received encouragement at home, where her father taught her to paint. She is regarded as the first woman artist, working within the same sphere as her male counterparts, outside a court or convent. That same year, Fontana created a likeness of Venus and Cupid, View Lavinia Fontana’s 183 artworks on artnet. 1552, Bologna, d. 1614, Roma) in the Web Gallery of Art, a searchable image collection and database of European painting, sculpture and architecture (200-1900) Lavinia Fontana was born in Bologna, the daughter of the painter Prospero Fontana, who was a prominent painter of the School of Bologna at the time and served as her teacher. At Clement's request, she executed her most famous public work, a 20-foot altarpiece titled "The Stoning of St. Stephen Martyr," which pictures the pathos of the first Christian to die for the faith. Lavinia Fontana (1552, Bologna — 11 August 1614, Rome) was an Italian artist of the late Renaissance, a representative of Mannerism. They formed a working partnership that supported her career, allowing her to accept a growing number of commissions for baroque portraits, small paintings, and religious art. Both financially and critically successful, Fontana was a representative painter of the Italian mannerist school, earning a reputation for pose, detail, and the use of a delicate palette. She is regarded as the first woman artist, working within the same sphere as her male counterparts, outside a court or convent. At age 27 she received a commission from Dominican scholar and church historian Pietro Ciaconio for the first of her two self-portraits, "Self-Portrait Seated at Her Desk," which features her in a composed, contemplative posture. Accademia Nazionale di San Luca, Rome 2. Lavinia Fontana (August 24, 1552 – August 11, 1614) was an Italian painter. Unlike most female artists of the period, Lavinia received encouragement at home, where her father taught her to paint. Like Artemisia Gentileschi, Lavinia Fontana (Bologna, 1552 – Roma, 1614) is the daughter of an artist, Prospero Fontana, who had a good reputation as a mannerist painter and a solid workshop in Bologna, before the advent of the Carracci. Women's World, edited by Irene Franck and David Brownstone, Harper Perennial, 1995. Her large and renowned body of work encompasses several genres, including altarpieces, history paintings, and portraits. Encyclopedia of World Biography on Lavinia Fontana A producer of over 135 sophisticated oil paintings, Lavinia Fontana (1552- 1614) was one of the first female portraitists to seek commissions.