Lavinia Fontana - Renaissance Woman Painter
Trained by her father, she achieved success in Bologna and Rome, including large-scale public commissions -- and still had time to have eleven children.
Women Artists: Renaissance and Baroque Painters
On this site: an overview of women painters of the 16th-17th centuries, including a list of many of the female painters of the period.
On this site: an overview of women painters of the 16th-17th centuries, including a list of many of the female painters of the period.
Lavinia Fontana
A bibliography for more about Lavinia Fontana.
A bibliography for more about Lavinia Fontana.
Lavinia Fontana
A biography of Fontana plus six images: "Noli me Tangere," "Portrait of a Noblewoman," "Lady with a Lapdog," "Minerva Dressing," "Visit of the Queen of Sheba" and "Woman of Samaria at Well." Click for larger versions of the pictures.
A biography of Fontana plus six images: "Noli me Tangere," "Portrait of a Noblewoman," "Lady with a Lapdog," "Minerva Dressing," "Visit of the Queen of Sheba" and "Woman of Samaria at Well." Click for larger versions of the pictures.
Lavinia Fontana
From the National Museum of Women in the Arts, a profile of the artist.
From the National Museum of Women in the Arts, a profile of the artist.
Holy Family with St. John
From NMWA, a small image of a lush picture of Mary with Jesus and Elizabeth with John, with Joseph looking on in the background. Unlike many pictures of the Holy Family, John and Jesus look very much like playful babies and Mary and Elizabeth like doting mothers.
From NMWA, a small image of a lush picture of Mary with Jesus and Elizabeth with John, with Joseph looking on in the background. Unlike many pictures of the Holy Family, John and Jesus look very much like playful babies and Mary and Elizabeth like doting mothers.
Minerva Dressing
From the Web Gallery of Art, a very large image. The viewer makes it possible to view the image in convenient sizes. This sensuous nude of the goddess about to enrobe -- note her shield and helmet on the floor -- is representative of the Renaissance revival of classical mythological themes.
From the Web Gallery of Art, a very large image. The viewer makes it possible to view the image in convenient sizes. This sensuous nude of the goddess about to enrobe -- note her shield and helmet on the floor -- is representative of the Renaissance revival of classical mythological themes.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
From the Web Gallery of Art, a very large image of a common religious theme. The viewer makes it possible to view the image in convenient sizes.
From the Web Gallery of Art, a very large image of a common religious theme. The viewer makes it possible to view the image in convenient sizes.
Portrait of a Couple
Likely a painting by Lavinia Fontana, this portrait shows a husband and wife together -- an unusual grouping for the time. Image from the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Likely a painting by Lavinia Fontana, this portrait shows a husband and wife together -- an unusual grouping for the time. Image from the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Portrait of a Lady with Lapdog
A large image of a portrait of a woman with elegant Renaissance ruffled collar and cuffs.
A large image of a portrait of a woman with elegant Renaissance ruffled collar and cuffs.
Portrait of a Noblewoman
From NMWA, a small image of one of the best-known Renaissance paintings by a woman.
From NMWA, a small image of one of the best-known Renaissance paintings by a woman.
Self-Portrait, 1577
Thumbnail image is clickable for a larger version of "Self-Portrait."
Thumbnail image is clickable for a larger version of "Self-Portrait."