Lady Diana Beauclerk
British (1735 – 1808)
This watercolour is an illustration for Canto XII, verses 30-33, from The Fairie Queen: written by Edmund Spencer.
Diana Beauclerk was the daughter of the 3rd Duke of Marlborough and Lady Diana Spencer (Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Charlotte, 1761)
A scandalous figure, she left her husband.
She then had a clandestine affair with Topham Beauclerk, had an illegitimate child, divorced and remarried. Diana wound up having to earn a living with her artistic abilities.
An amateur artist, she was touted as painting in crayons. She worked as an illustrator, did admirable caricatures and created ceramic designs; notably for Wedgewood.
Click on poetry to read it more clearly.
The Fairie Queen is available to download for free from the Project Gutenburg.
Fede Galiza
Italian – (1578 – 1630)
Fede’s father, Nunzio Galizia was a miniature portraitist who taught his daughter. By the age of 12 she was an accomplished artist.
Although she gained prominence in her lifetime, she did not acquire commissions, as her male counterparts did. Largely forgotten, she was rediscovered in the early 20th century.
In her lifetime, Galizia painted at least forty-four still lifes, some of which have been sold for millions. These represent about two thirds of her work. She is credited with having helped define early 17th century still life painting
The biblical tale of Judith is possibly the most feminist in art history.
A beautiful Jewish widow, she went with her faithful maid to the Assyrian enemy general Holofernes tent, and seduced him.
This gained his trust, and she was allowed into his tent freely, thereafter.
One night as he slept drunkenly, Judith decapitated him. She brought his head back to her timorous countrymen.
“Fede Galizia portrayed a clam, bejewelled Judith, with immaculate clothes and accessories at odds with the violence of her act.”
Lavinia Fontana
Italian – (1552 – 1614)
“Like many Renaissance artists, Lavinia Fontana used symbolism to convey messages in her paintings.”
In this painting, the noblewoman’s lap dog (an accessory must of the times) represents her faithfulness.
The juniper blossoms peeking from her neckline represent chasteness.
“Fontana also highlighted her sitter’s status through luxurious clothing and accessories.”
Note the pearl necklace, gold embroidered dress and fabulous lace details!
She was a celebrity, who documented not just fashion of the era, but also fashion accessories.
“Alidosi was one of many Bolognese elites who commissioned their portraits from Fontana”.
Lavinia Fontana was one of the most successful female artists in Bologna, Italy. Fontana left the largest body of existing art by any woman, who was painting prior to the 1700’s. Although much of her work is recorded but lost, about 150 works remain.
This is a lovely large painting.
As one can see, it sits about 18″ from the floor, and rises high above the information placquard, which is at low eye level.
Lavinia Fontana, was recently covered in an earlier post of Making her Mark. To learn more about her, please head over to the following:
Photos taken by ©️ Resa McConaghy – May 24, 2024
Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Canada
Quotes in bold italics are from the Art Gallery of Ontario display placquards.
Graffiti Lux Art & More 
Oh, my dear, it shows how unfair the men’s world was—and unfortunately still is. Lady Diana’s painting is intriguing, and Fede Galiza’s tableau is truly a masterpiece! And Lavinia Fontana’s painting represents the intelligence of the women of her era. Well done, Resa; thank you!
👍✌💖🎉💞
Aladin,
You are welcome!
So happy you saw this post.
I have loved every moment of doing this MHM series, and there are still a few posts left to go.
Art was always enjoyable to look at for me, but being passionate about it only happened after I became passionate about street art.
💙💙xoxoxo💙💙
Your beautiful eyes capture the art, and that’s our goal!
🥰❤️🌹
PS: I mistakenly wrote my reply in the wrong place! Sorry!!😁😅
Wonderful art, Resa. Thank you for sharing. I love the flow of the material in Diana Beauclerk’s work–not so much the faces. 😊
I’d love to see an exhibition with Fede Galizia’s Head of Holofernes side by side with Artemisia Gentileschi’s Judith decapitates Holofernes. As noted Galizia’s Judith seems so calm with the head (there’s a typo in your bold), while Gentileschi’s is in the act. Also, Judith seems to be a very wealthy widow with all her pearls. Pearls are a status symbol.
I love the “lovely large painting” by Lavinia Fontana with all its details depicting her wealth and status. I imagine even the flowers symbolized something. And I wonder if that’s a mirror in the background upper left?
Yay, I’m thrilled you like this post, Merril.
I thought a lot about you when I did this post.
Diana Beauclerk… well she was painting to poetry. You write poetry to paintings.
I would call both ekphrastic arts, but I’m not sure.
Will correct “bold” as soon as I answer this comment. Thank you!
Also, I didn’t realize pearls meant status. Thank you! I would also love to see Gentileschi’s painting next to this one. There is a fab article in Daily Art Magazine that features Judith by 10 artists. It’s crazy who painted this story. Caravaggio’s is as graphic as Gentileschi’s https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/best-judith-head-holofernes-paintings/
Yes..yes.. now that you mention it, it does appear to be a mirror… mirror or possibly a window to another room, the detail in it is WOW. Another thank you!
This beautiful art is breathtaking. Aladin has summed up perfectly how such gifted ladies art was essentially kept in the shadows of male artists at the time . Thankfully , it is recognized as among the finest works by today’s critics. Thank you Resa, for once again sharing the artwork of these women. They deserve to be seen hanging on the walls of the world most prestigious museums and exhibitions.
xoxoxxoxo
It really is sublime art. (as I struggle away with Bowie, a pencil and eraser) LOL.
The detail in these old paintings… pre photography is stunning. It is how we know what clothing looked like, in a detailed way. When I was designing for film, and a period show came up, I used paintings, and contemporary literature from the times to imagine how the clothes would look.
Thank goodness for women documenting women, while men did more important (hmm?) paintings.
Yes, these women are finally getting their place and praise. Let’s keep it moving along!
It is still paintings by men that fetch the highest prices. Last I looked, none of the 100 most expensive paintings were by women.
Loving the art!!!
xoxoxoxoxo
I saw the portrait of Judith by Fede Galiza many years ago when I spent two weeks on Florida’s westcoast and visited the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art at Sarasota. I had a wonderful and interesting time there following the footsteps of one of the greatest Circus Dynasties ever.
Stay safe, dear Resa!
Yes, this painting does live there. Very cool Martha.
The painting is spectacular in real life, and it was terrific that they leant it out for this exhibition on women artists – 1400-1800.
It’s wonderful that you got to go to that museum. I just learned about it when doing this post.
Take care as well, dear Martha! xo
Fascinating women and backstories. I’m glad their art is finally being appreciated.
Thank you Brad!
Yes, these are gorgeous paintings, and the illustration is beautiful and intriguing.
Yes.. I’m glad too. Doing this series on women in the arts (1400 -1800) has been very satisfying. 🌹
Beautiful art and fascinating stories Resa.
Thank you so much for sharing ❤️😊🥰
oh, i simply love all of this, resa!
Thank you, Resa, for another fascinating look at the work and lives of earlier women artists. The clothes! The jewels! The restrictions that all that implies. And, the expertise the artists developed to capture their times. Much appreciated!
Lovely art and interesting information!
In keeping with their male dominance initiative- protestant translations of the bible do not include the book of Judith! Of course, they do include Salome- but of course that is probably so that they can ridicule her dancing for male pleasure! What a great post in its every minute detail
A terrific/interesting post, Resa! So many wonderful paintings were created by women who deserved much more renown.
Your beautiful eyes capture the art, and that’s our goal!
🥰❤️🌹
Thank you so much, dear Resa, for this exquisite tribute to these artists.
In a world dominated by men, they must have struggled mightily to emerge (and I fear their path is fraught with difficulties even today).