Life Stories of Women Artists, 1550-1800 : An Anthology

"The struggles and achievements of forty-six notable women artists of the early modern period, as documented by their contemporaries, are uniquely brought together in this anthology. The life stories presented here are foundational texts for the history of art, but since most are found only in rare volumes and few have been translated into English, until now they have been generally inaccessible to many scholars. Originally published in biographical compendia such as Vasari's Lives of the Artists, the writings included here document not only the lives of relatively well known women artists such as Artemisia Gentileschi and Sofonisba Anguissola, but also those who have languished in obscurity, like Anna Waser and Li Yin. Each life story is preceded by a brief introduction to the artist as well as to her biographer, and the texts themselves are annotated to provide necessary clarification. Beyond their documentary value, these stories provide fascinating insight as to how men commonly characterized women artists as exceptions to their sex, and attempted to explain their presence in the male-dominated realm of art. The introductory chapter to the book explores this intriguing gender dynamic and elucidates some of the strategies and historical context that factored into the composition of these lives. The volume includes an appended index to women artists' life stories in biographical compendia of the period"--Publisher's description It Is An Old Adage That Anonymous Was A Woman. However Not All Female Artists Are Anonymous. In This Anthology Of Biographies Of Female Artists, Dabbs (art History, University Of Minnesota) And Her Colleagues Reproduce Biographies Of Female Artists Written By Their Contemporaries. Each One Is Prefaced With An Introduction On The Biographer And Anything More Known About The Artist. Each Entry Concludes With References For Further Research. The Biographies Are Fascinating In That The Authors' Admiration For Their Subjects Is Evident, Something Not Often Understood By Later Scholars. The Stories Reflect Both The Constraints On Women And Also The Appreciation Many Of Them Achieved In Their Lifetimes. While The Time Frame Is 1550-1800, The First Chapters Discuss Women Mentioned In Classical And Medieval Texts. Historians Of Art, Culture And Women Will Enjoy This Useful Compilation. Introduction. I. Reader's Guide To The Anthology: Purpose And Scope ; Ii. Interpreting The Life Stories Of Early Modern Women Artists -- I. The Forerunners: Life Stories Of Ancient And Medieval Women Artists. Pliny The Elder's Natural History (first Century A.d.): Excerpt On Women Painters ; Giovanni Boccaccio's Delle Donne Illustri (1545; Translation Of De Mulieribus Claris, C. 1361), And The Life Stories Of Thamyris, Irene, And Marcia ; Christine De Pizan, Le Livre De La Cité Des Dames (1405): Thamyris, Irene, And Marcia The Roman --^ Ii. The Life Stories Of Early Modern Women Artists (1550-1800). Giorgio Vasari, Le Vite De' Più Eccellenti Pittori, Scultori Et Architettori Italiani (1568). Properzia De' Rossi (c. 1490-1530), Sculptor, Italy, Sister Plautilla Nelli (1524-88), Painter, Italy ; Dionigi Atanagi, Rime E Versi Latini Di Diversi, In Morte D'irene Di Spilimbergo (1561). Irene Di Spilimbergo (1538-59), Painter, Italy ; Giulio Mancini, Considerazioni Sulla Pittura (written C. 1614-30). Lavinia Fontana (1552-1614), Painter, Italy ; Carlo Ridolfi, Le Maraviglie Dell' Arte (1648). Marietta Robusti (c. 1555-90), Painter, Italy ; Giovanni Battista Passeri, Le Vite De' Pittori, Scultori Ed Architetti Che Hanno Lavorato In Roma (written C. 1670). Caterina Ginnasi (1590-1660), Painter, Italy ; Raffaele Soprani, Le Vite De' Pittori, Scoltori Ed Architetti Genovesi (1674). Sofonisba Anguissola (c. 1532-1625), Painter, Italy ; Carlo Cesare Malvasia, Felsina Pittrice: Vite De' Pittori Bolognesi (1678).^ Elisabetta Sirani (1638-65), Painter, Italy ; Filippo Baldinucci, Notizie De' Professori Del Disegno (1681-1728). St. Caterina Vigri (c. 1413-63), Painter, Italy, Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-c. 1652), Painter, Italy ; Li-chou, Colophon To The Handscroll Flowers Of The Four Seasons (c. 1685). Li Yin (1616-85), Painter, China ; Arnold Houbraken, De Groote Schouburgh Der Nederlantsche Konstschilders En Schilderessen (1718-21). Maria Van Oosterwijck (1630-93), Painter, Holland, Adriana Spilberg (c. 1652- C. 1703), Painter, Holland, Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717), Painter, Germany/holland, Johanna Koerten (1650-1715), Painter And Silhouette Artist, Holland ; Antonio Palomino, El Parnaso Español ... Vidas De Los Pintores Y Estatuarios Eminentes Españoles (1724). Luisa Roldán (1652-1706), Sculptor, Spain. Jacob Campo Weyerman, De Levens-beschryvingen Der Nederlandsche Konstschilders En Schilderessen (1729). Miss Rozee (1632-82), Painter And Embroiderer, Holland ; Lione Pascoll, Vite De' Pittori, Scultori Ed Architetti Perugini (1732). Teodora Danti (c.1498-c.1573), Painter, Italy ; Damiao De Froes Perym (joao De San Pedro), Theatro Heroino (1736-40). Josefa D'ayala De Óbidos (1630-84), Painter And Printmaker, Portugal ; Bernardo De Dominici, Vite De' Pittori, Scultori Ed Architetti Napoletani (1742-45). Mariangela Criscuolo (c.1548-after 1598), Italy, Sister Luisa Capomazza (c.1600-c.1646), Painter, Italy, Diana (annella) De Rosa (1602-43), Painter, Italy, Sister Maria De Dominici (1645-1703), Sculptor And Painter, Italy, Teresa Del Pò (1649-1713), Painter And Printmaker, Italy ; Jan Van Gool, De Nieuwe Schouburg Der Nederlandsche Kunstschilders En Schilderessen (1750-51).^ Rachel Ruysch (1664-1750), Painter, Holland ; Margaretha Wulfraet (1678-1760), Painter, Holland, Henrietta Wolters (1692-1741), Painter, Holland ; George Ballard, Memoirs Of Several Ladies Of Great Britain Who Have Been Celebrated For Their Writing Or Skill In The Learned Languages, Arts And Sciences (1752). Esther Inglis (1571-1624), Calligrapher And Miniaturist, England/scotland ; Francesco Moücke, Serie Di Ritratti Degli Eccellenti Pittori Dipinti Di Propria Mano Che Esistono Nell' Imperial Galleria Di Firenze (1752-62). Arcangela Paladini (1599-1622), Painter And Embroiderer, Italy, Giovanna Fratellini, (1666-1731), Painter, Italy, Violante Beatrice Siriès (1710-83), Painter, Italy ; Johann Caspar Füssli, Geschichte Der Besten Künstler In Der Schweiz Nebst Ihren Bildnissen (1769-79). Anna Waser (1678-1714), Miniaturist, Switzerland ; Antoine-joseph Dézallier D'argenville, Abrégé De La Vie Des Plus Fameux Peintres (1762).^ Rosalba Carriera (1675-1757), Painter, Italy, Elisabeth-sophie Chéron (1648-1711), Painter And Printmaker, France ; Horace Walpole, Anecdotes Of Painting In England (1762-71). Anne Killigrew (1660-85), Painter, England, Mary Beale (1633-99), Painter, England ; Luigi Crespi, Vite De' Pittori Bolognesi Non Descritte Nella Felsina Pittrice (1769). Antonia Pinelli (active C.1614-44), Painter, Italy, Teresa Muratori (1662-1708), Painter, Italy, Lucia Casalini Torelli (1677-1762), Painter, Italy, Eleonora Monti (1727-d. After 1769), Painter, Italy, Clarice Vasini (18th Cent.), Sculptor, Italy ; Giambattista Biffi, Memorie Per Servire Alla Storia Degli Artisti Cremonesi (written 1770s). Onorata Rodiani (c.1400-52), Painter, Italy, Maria Felice Barbo (1700-34), Miniaturist, Italy ; Anonymous, London Magazine (1775). Patience Wright (1725-86) Sculptor, America/england ; Johann Georg Meusel, Miscellaneen Artistischen Inhalts (1783).^ Anna Dorothea Lisiewska-therbusch (1721-82), Painter, Germany ; Jean-baptiste-pierre Lebrun, Précis Historique De La Vie De La Citoyenne Lebrun, Peintre (1793). Elisabeth Vigée-lebrun (1755-1842), Painter, France -- Appendix: Index To Women Artists In Early Modern Biographical Sources. Julia K. Dabbs. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.