A Guide to Hidden Gems by Women Artists in Bologna
A guided tour in Bologna highlights the contributions of female artists from the 16th and 17th centuries. Among the featured works is Properzia de’ Rossi’s marble relief, 'Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife', and Elisabetta Sirani’s 'Baptism of Christ' from 1657. The lost altarpiece by Ginevra Cantofoli was located at San Giacomo Maggiore. Lavinia Fontana’s pieces, including 'Madonna Enthroned' (1589), 'Portrait of a Newborn' (c. 1583), and 'The Gozzadini Family' (1584), can be found at the Pinacoteca Nazionale. Additionally, Teresa Muratori’s fresco 'La Memoria Muratori' (1707), which suffered damage during WWII, is displayed at the Archiginnasio. Sirani’s 'Portia Wounding Her Thigh' (1664) is located at Santa Maria della Vita, where she is also interred in the Basilica di San Domenico.
Key facts
- Properzia de’ Rossi’s marble relief 'Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife' is one of the earliest sculptures by a woman in Europe.
- Elisabetta Sirani trained at her father’s studio and opened Europe’s first school for women artists.
- Sirani completed over 100 paintings before her death at 27.
- Sirani’s 'Baptism of Christ' (1657) is in the former church of San Girolamo at the Certosa di Bologna.
- Ginevra Cantofoli received a rare commission for an altarpiece of San Tommaso da Villanova at San Giacomo Maggiore.
- Lavinia Fontana’s 'Madonna Enthroned with the Christ Child, Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Saints Cosmas and Damian, and the Patron Scipione Calcina' (1589) is at San Giacomo Maggiore.
- Artemisia Gentileschi’s 'Susanna and the Elders' is on display at the Pinacoteca Nazionale.
- Teresa Muratori’s memorial fresco 'La Memoria Muratori' (1707) was damaged in WWII bombing on January 29, 1944.
- Elisabetta Sirani is buried in the Basilica di San Domenico beside Guido Reni.
- Bologna has over 50 churches with many undocumented or overlooked artworks.
Entities
Artists
- Properzia de’ Rossi
- Lavinia Fontana
- Elisabetta Sirani
- Ginevra Cantofoli
- Artemisia Gentileschi
- Teresa Muratori
- Guido Reni
- Michelangelo
- Roberto Muratori
- Francesco Muratori
- Achille Muratori
- Maria Teresa Muratori Moneta
Institutions
- Certosa di Bologna
- San Girolamo
- San Giacomo Maggiore
- Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna
- Archiginnasio of Bologna
- Santa Maria della Vita
- Museo Davia Bargellini
- Basilica di San Domenico
- University of Bologna
- Carisbo collection
- Fondazione della Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna
- Basilica of Santo Stefano
Locations
- Bologna
- Italy
- Via Urbana
- Certosa di Bologna
- San Girolamo
- San Giacomo Maggiore
- Pinacoteca Nazionale
- Archiginnasio
- Santa Maria della Vita
- Piazza Maggiore
- Piazza Santo Stefano
- Museo Davia Bargellini
- Basilica di San Domenico