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

FLOWER POWER!! THE FANTASTIC ART OF RACHEL RUYSCH

Rachel Ruysch (Dutch 1664-1750) was  a still life painter from the Northern Netherlands.  

She became a prominent court painter for the city of Dusseldorf (Germany).  Here she painted floral

paintings for the Prince Johann Wilhelm and his wife.  

 Insects and a Lizard In A Wood by Rachel Ruysch, Collection of
The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, England

Roses, Convolvulus, Poppies And Other Flowers On A Stone Ledge

by Rachel Ruysch, collection of the National Museum Of Women In the Arts, Washington DC

She became so renowned and popular for her flower paintings, that she received higher prices for her work than even the famous Dutch master painter,😎 Rembrandt Van Rijn.

Here is a video for you to learn more about Rachel Ruysch and her work:

BRILLIANT, YOUNG ARTIST: ELISABETTA SIRANI

Elisabetta Sirani (Italian 1638 -1665)was a talented painter, who lived a short, but very productive life.  She was a celebrity in her day and received enough portrait commissions to support her entire family!!

  She was also a teacher and opened an art academy for other woman artists, making Bologna, the city she lived in, an  important center for women artists. 

Self-Portrait as Allegory of Painting (1658)
 by Elisabetta Sirani, Collection of Pushkin Museum, Moscow

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