On This Day in Herstory, August 11th 1614, Lavinia Fontana, regarded as the first female career artist in Western Europe, and perhaps the first woman artist to paint female nudes, died in Rome; she was 62 years old.
Lavinia Fontana was born in Bologna in 1552, her father was Prospero Fontana, a prominent painter, and her mother was Antonia de’ Bonardis. Her father trained her as an artist from a young age, the family’s financial concerns may have prompted this training. Her earliest known work, Child of the Monkey, was painted in 1575, when she was 23; though it is now lost. Fortunately for Lavinia, society in Bologna was wholly supportive of her career as an artist; she was provided with many connections and opportunities, type of assistance was not typically afforded to other female artists, especially those in other areas. By the 1580s, she was known as a portraitist for Bolognese noblewomen, who were often in competition for Lavinia’s services. Lavinia didn’t just create portraits, she also created large religious paintings that contained mythological themes, and even sometimes female nudes. To this day there is controversy over her depictions of women in the nude. It can be argued that the realism of the women seem to indicate that she used live nude models. Conversely, during Lavinia’s lifetime, it wasn’t acceptable for women to be exposed to nudity, so if it was discovered that she used live nude models, her career might’ve suffered. She, instead, may have had her family model for her.In June of 1577, Lavinia married Gian Paolo Zappi. Together they had 11 children, though only 3 outlived her. Her husband was responsible for the household, raising the children, and serving as an Lavinia’s agent; while Lavinia was the family’s sole income. At this time, she also attended art classes at the University of Bologna, and in 1580 she was listed as one of the city’s ‘Donne addtrinatte’ (women with doctorates). In 1603, Lavinia moved her family to Rome at the invitation of Pope Clement VIII. Shortly thereafter, she was appointed as Portraitist in Ordinary at the Vatican. Her career thrived in Rome, and was even asked to paint a portrait of Pope Paul V. Lavinia Fontana died on August 11th 1614, in Rome; she was 62 years old.Her Self-Portrait at the Clavichord with a Servant is thought to be her masterpiece. In the painting she shows herself as both a distinguished lady and as a professional artist. Because of the moral standards of the time, it was necessary for her to demonstrate her ability as a daughter, wife, and mother before her ability as an artist, order for her career to thrive as it did. Today, there are over 100 of her paintings that are documented. 32 that are signed and dated are still known today, and a further 25 unsigned paintings can be attributed to her. This is the largest oeuvre for any female painter prior to 1700.
