#mannerist

The "Royal Elephant," Fresco (c. 1533–1539) The "Royal Elephant" is a famous fresco located at the Château de Fontainebleau. Rosso Fiorentino (1494–1540) and his workshop painted it to celebrate King Francis I. The elephant, stork, and accompanying gods symbolize royal virtue, wisdom, and power. The artwork features Greco-Roman deities like Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto. This fresco, along with the gallery's stucco work, introduced Mannerist art and the Italian Renaissance to France. Loc. Château de Fontainebleau, France. Dim. 1670 cm H x 2780 cm W (657 1/2 x 1094 1/2 in.).

Livinia Fontana 🎨

Italian 🇮🇹

1552 Bologna, Italy - 1614 Rome, Italy

Style - mannerist

Livinia Fontana was born in Bologna, Italy to Antonia de’Bonardis and Prospero Fontana. She had a brother and sister but both died before her. Her father Propero was a teacher and popular mannerist painter and was the one who began her education. She also received training from Denis Calvaert, a student of her father and Ludovico Carracci who was also taught by her father. Fontana went to the University of Bologna where she earned a doctorate. During this training she may have been the first female artists to not only paint nudes but also study nude models.

The environment in Bologna at the time was supportive of female artists, more so than elsewhere else in Europe at the time (not sure abt elsewhere)

When Fontana was 25 she married Count Gian Paolo Zappi of Imola with whom she had 11 children. Only 3 survived her. As part of her marriage agreement her husband, who was one of her father’s pupils, moved in with her family and agreed to let her keep painting. Good thing too because she was more talented than her husband who stopped painting and became her agent. He was also in charge of their kids.

As a result of her talent and freedom Fontana became a popular portrait painter among Bolognese noble women who would compete for har services for the next 20 years. She eventually caught the eye of the Spanish king at the time and paint for him. In 1603 Fontana’s dad died and the family moved to Rome at the behest of Pope Clement VIII. She subsequently Pope Gregory XIIII became her patron. Fontana then became principal painter of Pope Paul V.

During her Career Fontana created over 100 works becoming the first career female artist in history. She expanded from portraiture to altar pieces. Possibly being the first woman to make so many. Other women were doing art as part of their devotion in the case of nuns or court painters. Women would usually stop art-making once they got married.

Livinia Fontana died at 62 in Rome on Aug 11, 1614.

left. Minerva dressing. Fontana’s last known painting. Right. Portrait of Bianca degli Utili Meselli and kids. Meselli died at giving birth to her 19th child. Most of Meselli’s kids also died.

Top. Self portrait.

Sources

The Art Story - Livinia Fontana

NMWA - Livinia Fontana

Wikipedia - Livinia Fontana