AN ENGLISH SUCCESS STORY: ARTIST MARY BEALE

Mary Beale (English 1633 – 1699) was one of the most successful professional female Baroque era portrait painters of the late 17th century.

Mary Beale managed to be the financial provider for her family through her professional portrait business. 

Her book Observations, although it was never officially published, was one of the first instructional books ever written by a woman and boldly announced her authority on painting. 🌟🌹

Self-portrait by Mary Beale

Portrait Der Königlichen Maitresse Nell Gwyn by Mary Beale

Here is a video where you can see works by Mary Beale🌻:

VICTORIAN GENIUS: ARTIST --BEATRIX POTTER

Beatrix Potter (British 1866-1943) was a botanical artist and creator of one of the best selling children's books of all time "The Tale of Peter Rabbit".

She started her artistic career by creating exquisite watercolor studies of plants, animals, mushrooms and flowers and other natural objects.  
Here are some examples:

Mouse Study by Beatrix Potter

Mushroom Study by Beatrix Potter

Here is a study of Peter Rabbit, who began the star🌟 of her internationally famous children's book  "The Tale of Peter Rabbit".

Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

Here is a video where you can learn more about Beatrix Potter:

A STAR IS BORN: ARTIST, JUDITH LEYSTER

Judith Leyster ( Dutch 1609-1660) was a painter of the Dutch Golden Age.  She painted portraits, still lifes and genre paintings.  She was very accomplished at an early age.  She was the only woman to enter the Haarlem's Saint Luke Guild of painters, and ran her own studio where she had three students!🎈🎈🎈

 She was cited by  writer/poet, Samuel Ampzing (Dutch 1590-1632)in the book Beschrijvinge ende lof der stadt Haerlem as one of the most important artists of Haarlem when she was only nineteen.😃

  In 1893 it was discovered that one of her paintings "The Happy Couple", had been mistakenly attributed to Frans Hals--her signature was revealed under a fake Frans Hals signature!!!👀

Judith Leyster's last name meant "North Star".  She adopted a signature that features her initials and a star.🌟

GIRL WITH STRAW HAT by Judith Leyster

THE UNIQUE, BAROQUE ART OF JOSEFA DE OBIDOS

Still Life With Sweets by Josefa De Obidos

Josefa de Óbidos (1630-1684) was a Spanish born Portuguese Painter. Approximately 150 works of art have been attributed to Josefa de Óbidos, making her one of the most prolific Baroque artists in Portugal. She was able to make her living and support herself independently as an artist.  Her entire family was artistic.  Her father Balthasar Gomes Figueira (Portuguese 1604-1674) was an artist who painted altarpieces and still-lifes.  Her uncle, Bernabe de Ayala (Spanish 1625-1689), was a follower of Francisco Zurbaran (Spanish, 1598-1664). She was famous for painting still lifes, religious subjects as well as an  being an accomplished engraver.  She was visited by many women who wanted to watch her paint or have their portraits painted by her.

She received a very important commissions for several churches. One of her most important commissions was to paint several scenes for the altarpiece at The Church of Santa Maria de Obidos in Portugal.  Her most well known portrait is the one of Faustino das Neves, which is the collection of The Municipal Museum of Obidos. 

Portrait of Faustino Das Neves by Josefa De Obidos

She was the subject of a one woman exhibition at The National Museum Of Women In The Arts in 1997, Washington DC entitled "The Sacred And The Profane".🎊😊 

Hers is a video where you can see more of her work:

CATHARINA VAN HEMESSEN THE ORIGINAL

Portrait of a Lady, by Catharina Van Hemessen

Catharina van Hemessen (Flemish* 1528 ~1581) was a painter who lived during the Renaissance*  She specialized in religious scenes and portraits.  Her mastery in painting, led her to have associations with  royalty. 


Among her significant works are her self-portraits, she was in a very early group of artists, who started to paint straight forward self-portraits in the mirror, before it became a common practice among artists. 😊💗

Self-Portrait by Catharina Van Hemessen

 She also painted small complex religious scenes. 

Ascent To Calvary And Encounter With Veronica by Catharina Van Hemessen

Here is a video where you can learn more about her work:

👏👏👏👏

MARIA VAN OOSTERWIJCK : ARTIST FOR THE KINGS OF EUROPE

Maria van Oosterwijck (Dutch,1630–1693) was a painter of flowers and other still lifes*.  Her beautiful paintings were purchased by royalty.

Her paintings were SO APPEALING that several kings purchased them, including: Louis the XIV (14th) of France, Augustus II-''The Strong" king of Poland, and William III of England.👑🌟

Maria also enjoyed putting butterflies in most of her paintings, especially, the red admiral butterfly*🎨

Here is an example of her work (can you find the red admiral butterfly below?): 

Vanitas-Still Life by Maria van Oosterwijck

Here is a video where you can learn more about her work:

*Still Life: is defined as a painting or drawing of an arrangement of objects, typically including, fruits, flowers and objects contrasting with these in textures, such as glassware and bowls.

IMPRESSIVE PASTEL PAINTER : ROSALBA CARRIERA

Rosalba Carriera (Italian, 1673 – 1757) was an artist who used pastels to create portraits*.  She became very successful in her day, and she is known as one of the most successful women artists in the history of art. 

                                                       Young Girl Holding a Monkey by Rosalba Carriera 



She received many royal commissions*, including one from King Frederick IV of Denmark.👑 




Here is a video for you to learn more about Rosalba's work:

*Portrait - a painting or drawing, or photograph showing a person, especially one showing a person's face and shoulders

*Commission --an instruction or command to produce something, given to a person or a group of people