Lavinia Fontana

Lavinia Fontana ( born August 24, 1552 Bologna, † August 11, 1614 in Rome) was an Italian painter of the Mannerist.

Life

Lavinia was the daughter of the painter Prospero Fontana (1512-1597) and was trained by him. Especially their portraits and historical representations were generally known. Lavinia married in 1577 Paolo Zappi (or: Paolo Fappi ). She brought eleven children into the world, of which only three survived. Her husband, also artistically trained, supported his wife, when he used housework, and should also work on their small paintings that have performed among others robes. Lavinia moved in 1603 with her family at the invitation of Pope Gregory XIII. to Rome. Among her best works is the portrait of their patron. Lavinia Fontana painted portraits of members of the influential Society of Bologna, group portraits, but also religious motifs and large-scale altarpieces. Unusually for a woman of that time they ventured into nudes. Your Image " Minerva dresses at " from 1613 is at the same time their last known painting. Lavinia was very successful, was elected to the Academy in Rome, and was one of the best painters of their time.

There are more than 100 works that are documented from early sources, but only 32 are signed. Another 25 received works attributed to her, which makes her oeuvre to the most extensive a painter before the 17th century.