Self-Portrait of Marie Bashkirtseff I recently started reading Jennifer Higgie’s “The Mirror and the Palette” which examines self-portraiture by women artists over the last 500 years. While reading the book, I came across an artist that I was completely unfamiliar with but for a brief period of time was considered one of the most famousContinue reading “Reframing History: Marie Bashkirtseff”
Category Archives: biography
Reframing History: Anne Seymour Damer, the “Sappho of Sculpture”
When discussing female artists who rejected traditional gender norms, many art historians reference Rosa Bonheur, but before Bonheaur was the so-called “Sappho of Sculpture” Anne Seymour Damer (1748-1828). Damer was an English sculptor, described by English writer, art historian, and politician (and her god-father) Horace Walpole as a “female genius.” In addition to sculpting, sheContinue reading “Reframing History: Anne Seymour Damer, the “Sappho of Sculpture””
Catherine de’ Medici’s Identities II
This post is a continued discussion of Catherine de’ Medici. We’d recommend you read this post first before diving into this deeper discussion. NEGOTIATING IDENTITIES AND MEDIATING STATUS Catherine de’ Medici became a deeply engaged art collector and patron after her husband Henri’s death, when she occupied the positions of queen mother or queen regentContinue reading “Catherine de’ Medici’s Identities II”
Reframing History: Edmonia Lewis
The first African American and Native American sculptor to archive international acclaim, Mary Edmonia Lewis was born in New York in 1844. Born to a mother of Mississauga Ojibwe and African-American descent, Lewis was surrounded by Indigenous artisans and sold Ojibwe items to tourists visiting Niagara Falls and the surrounding area. By the time sheContinue reading “Reframing History: Edmonia Lewis”
Reframing History: Lady Elizabeth Wilbraham
Lady Elizabeth Wilbraham is considered by some to be the United Kingdom’s first female architect and a major patroness of architecture during the 17th century. Born into aristocracy in 1632, Lady Wilbraham married Thomas Wilbraham, the heir to the baronetcy of Wilbraham in 1651. During their honeymoon, the couple traveled throughout Europe and Lady WilbrahamContinue reading “Reframing History: Lady Elizabeth Wilbraham”
Reframing History: Sister Plautilla Nelli
Sister Plautilla Nelli (1524-1588) was a self-taught artist and is often considered the first known woman artist of Florence. She was a nun in the Dominican convent of St. Catherine of Siena, where she was heavily influenced by the teachings of Dominican friar and avid preacher Savonarola. Savonarola advocated for devotional paintings and encouraged womanContinue reading “Reframing History: Sister Plautilla Nelli”
Reframing History: Chen Shu 陳書
Chen Shu (1660-1735) was born into an elite family in Jiaxing, China and was the daughter of an artist. This allowed her to study painting as a young girl, despite the mixed feelings about women’s education at the time that kept only a few women of the elite from pursuing an education. Chen Shu studiedContinue reading “Reframing History: Chen Shu 陳書”
Reframing History: Giovanni Antonio Bazzi, aka ‘Il Sodoma’
Giovanni Antonio Bazzi was born in Piedmont, Italy in 1477. He studied the strong coloring and style of the Lombard school of painting, but went on to adopt many of the stylistic features of Leonardo. He is best known for completing a number of church frescos throughout Siena. He is one of the first toContinue reading “Reframing History: Giovanni Antonio Bazzi, aka ‘Il Sodoma’”
Reframing History: Alessandro de’ Medici, Duke of Florence
Alessandro de’ Medici was the first Duke of the Florence from 1532 to his death in 1537. Alessandro was the last of the senior line of the Medici family to lead Florence, recognized as the only son of Lorenzo II de’ Medici (the grandson of Lorenzo the Great). Yet, there are many questions about whoContinue reading “Reframing History: Alessandro de’ Medici, Duke of Florence”
Reframing History: Sofonisba Anguissola
Sofonisba Anguissola was an Italian Renaissance painter born to minor nobility in Cremona, Italy. She was the eldest of seven; six sisters and one brother. Her father, Amilcare, insured his children received a proper education in the humanities and fine arts and he arranged for Sofonisba and her sister, Elena, to study with Bernardino Campi,Continue reading “Reframing History: Sofonisba Anguissola”
Renaissance Reframed 