-
1165
The Universal Man by Hildegard von Bingen
Hildegard of Bingen. (1165). The Universal Man[Illumination from Liber Divinorum Operum]. Britannica.com. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Hildegard#/media/1/265747/17146 Hildegard of Bingen was a German Benedictine abbess. She is very well known as a composer, but created influential visual art as well. She created visionary work based on her faith and philosophy, and the Universal Man depicts a human within the universe and represents the oneness of the world. -
1361
De Mulieribus Claris
Boccaccio, G., Zainer, J., Ashburner, W. & Lessing J. Rosenwald Collection. (1473) De Claris Mulieribus. Ulm, Johann Zainer. [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/48031299/ De Mulieribus Claris, or "Concerning Famous Women", is an illuminated manuscript of female biographies. The women include Eve and Ceres of mythological stature, as well as the histories of Pamphile, credited with inventing a silkspinning method, and Agrippina, mother of Emperor Nero. -
1556
Self Portrait at the Easel
Anguissola, S. (1556) Self Portrait at the Easel [painting]. Muzeum-Zamek at Lancut Castle, Lancut, Poland.
Sofonisba Anguissola is one of the first women artists to establish an international reputation. While other women were trained by male family members, her father was a nobleman. In this 1556 self portrait, she depicts herself with her tools, painting the Virgin and baby Jesus. She is not a passive object in this portrait. Later, she depicts herself playing an instrument. -
Susanna and the Elders
Gentileschi, A. (1610). Susanna and the Elders[painting]. Schloss Weissenstein, Germany.
Artemisia Gentileschi is one of the most accomplished and influential artists of the Baroque period. She worked for royalty, portraying powerful women from a female perspective.
This painting shows two men leering at a woman in the privacy of her bath, while she throws her arms up in defense. The men do not care about Susanna's dignity. It shows an invasion of female privacy by the male gaze.