Lavinia Fontana (1552-1614)

Lavinia Fontana was born and grew up in Bologna, Italy in 1552, the daughter of Prospero Fontana, a successful artist. In addition to doing portraits, she also painted pictures with religious and mythological themes. Many regard Fontana as the first woman in Western Europe outside of a convent or a royal court to enjoy an actual career as an artist, but Bologna was a wonderful place for women artists then. Fontana had three other talented fellow artists: Elizabetta Sirani, Caterina dei Vigri, and the sculptress Properzia de Rossi.

In 1577, Fontana married a well-born painter, who actually served as his wife's assistant and took care of their children. From 1580 to 1600, Fontana was the portrait artist more Bolognese noblewomen preferred. In 1604 she moved to Rome where she served as a portraitist at the court of Pope Paul V and received many honors.

One of her most famous pictures, Portrait of a Noblewoman, was done in 1580. It is almost like a photograph with a lot of detail and realism. The rich fabrics (velvet, satin, and gold lace) and jewels seem real! Researchers think this is wedding portrait because most Bolognese brides wore red wedding dresses. Based on the clothing and accessories, the young woman in the picture came from a very wealthy family.