The Renaissance is remembered as an explosion of art and culture, blending to create a new way of living. However, back in those days, it was more of a man’s world. In this new age, it’s time to flip the script. When the Renaissance comes to mind, people often forget about the inspirational, highly accomplished women of that time. From artists to queens to badass feminist icons, the Renaissance was filled with ongoing brilliant women that helped shape one of history’s most pivotal shifts in art and culture.
#1 – Artemisia Gentileschi
From only 15-years-old, 17th-century artist Artemisia Gentileschi was producing professional Baroque paintings.. She took her talents all over as she traveled to Rome, Florence, Venice, Naples and London to work with highly respected members of European society and artists. She was sexually assaulted by artist Agostino Tassi and he was brought to trial in 1612 and found guilty. He was then banished from Rome as a small justice for his acts. Gentileschi didn’t give up on her craft, as she created a successful workshop in Naples despite a lack of status and financial support from a court or men due to the widespread hate she faced. She often depicted women in aggressive or heroic scenarios within her paintings, fighting the stereotypical gender roles at the time and inspired by her assault. This allowed her to create paintings of women from a woman’s perspective, something many of the male artists were unable to do.
#2 – Caterina Sforza
Caterina Sforza was not just a lady of nobility in Italy, but a 15th-century scientist who specialized in chemistry and medicine. One of her most famous experiments in her manuscript contains a recipe for creating false gold. Sforza recorded 454 recipes for different medicines, cosmetics and alchemy in her book “Experimenti.” She had a brilliant mind and a fierce appetite for bravery. Sforza helped rule over Forli and Imola, two cities in Italy. She proved to be an immensely talented warrior and ruler, and she could also ride horses, fight and hunt. At seven months pregnant, one of her most famous adventures was saving her family’s reputation by riding a horse to Castel Sant’Angelo to seize power over the papal castle. She then used the castle’s artillery to threaten the College of Cardinals, a Roman Catholic Church. Sforza and her children were captured after a noble family assassinated her husband. She later tricked her captors to let her into the fortress and then refused to surrender. After her captors fled without laying a hand on her or her children, she had her men track them down, torture and kill them. Her insatiable quest for righteousness is an inspiring lesson that resonates with people to this day.
#3 – Lavinia Fontana
Lavinia Fontana was best known as a portraitist from 16th-century Bologna. She learned the skill of painting from her father, Prospero Fontana. She was drawn to creating paintings in the Mannerist style, a unique approach to realism as it focuses on colorfulness and creative poses. The Roman artists’ academy, Accademia di San Luca, welcomed her into their program as the first woman. This helped her become the first woman to have a successful art career without being a part of a court or convent. Not only did her career thrive, but she also had 11 children while doing so. Fontana was especially talented in painting jewels and luxury clothing in great detail. Within her career, she created over 100 paintings, some of the most famous being “Portrait of a Noblewoman,” “Minerva Dressing” and “Holy Family with St Catherine of Alexandria.”
#4 – Lucrezia Borgia
Lucrezia Borgia is a prime example of how a woman’s reputation is dragged in history books because of a man’s behavior, merely by association. Borgia grew her status in society through her three high-profile marriages and her father becoming Pope Alexander VI. Her family holds a ruthless and power-hungry place in history as politically ambitious villains. So why is it that for so long, the blame was placed on her, too? Well, she has quite the troublemaker legacy as the daughter of a vicious, scheming pope. She was also sister to a man who was rumored to have assassinated her former husband. To add to the chaos, she was also an alleged attendee of the Banquet of Chestnuts, anorgy of over 50 people hosted by her own brother, Cesare Borgia. Despite her family being the talk of the town, she did not let them dictate her legacy; she later became the Duchess of Ferrara and used her position to attain status and an active member of the arts community. We have the power to write our own history, and Borgia is a reminder of that.
#5 – Queen Elizabeth I
We know Queen Elizabeth II — longest reigning British monarch in history. But do you know how she got her name? Queen Elizabeth I was an unforgettably powerful ruler of England and Ireland for 45 years. During her reign, she helped the arts and culture during the Renaissance flourish. Her intelligence showed in her ability to speak fluently in at least five different languages, including English, Welsh, Cornish, Scottish and Irish, all places where she held power. She was able to help prevent religious wars from breaking out in England by creating a church settlement for her people. In addition, the queen aided explorers’ voyages overseas. This discovery led to expanding trading in the future by creating the East India Company. She also helped theater thrive by making them accessible and popular. During her powerful reign, she chose never to marry to keep England and Ireland from succumbing to any foreign prince’s ploys in foreign policies.
Fun Fact: She was in attendance for Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream” opening night.
#6 – Sofonisba Anguissola
Sofonisba Anguissola was one of the greatest portraitists of her time. Unlike most female artists during the Renaissance who learned art from male relatives, she was taught by famous artists such as Bernardino Campi and Bernardino Gatti. Born into a noble family in northern Italy where she was the oldest of seven siblings, she had plenty of people to model her paintings on. The court of King Philip II recognized Anguissola’s talent, and she was invited to paint portraits while a lady-in-waiting in Madrid. Before Dutch painter Remebrandt made self-portraits so popular, Sofinisba made quite a few of herself while working as a lady in waiting for the Queen of Spain. In her work, Anguissola showcased the importance of Christianity and virginity to herself through her faith and paintings. She took the time to teach her three sisters, Lucia, Europa and Anna Maria to paint like her and pass down the skill to more women. Anguissola is proof that going against the social norm can be overwhelmingly impactful.
words_lucy carlson-pietraszek. illustration_sovannreach po. design_charlotte deangelis.
This article was published in Distraction’s Winter 2024 print issue.
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