Elisabetta Sirani's 'Virgin and Child': A Masterpiece Reconsidered
Elisabetta Sirani (1638–1665), a talented artist from Bologna, found success despite being eclipsed by her male counterparts. Her notable work, 'Virgin and Child' (1663), housed at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, exemplifies her skill. This oil painting, measuring 34 x 27 1/2 inches, features the Virgin Mary adorned in red and blue with a turban, while the infant Jesus clutches a crown of roses. Commissioned by Paolo Poggi when she was just 25, she became Bologna's highest-paid female artist. Sirani established her studio at 19 and passed away at 27; an autopsy later indicated perforated stomach ulcers. She mentored 14 female students and created over 150 pieces, now celebrated alongside Artemisia Gentileschi.
Key facts
- Elisabetta Sirani (1638–1665) was a prolific painter from Bologna, Italy.
- Her masterpiece 'Virgin and Child' (1663) is in the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, DC.
- The painting is an oil on canvas measuring 34 x 27 1/2 inches.
- The Virgin's blue cloak was likely painted with crushed lapis lazuli.
- The Virgin wears a turban, a style favored by peasant women in Bologna.
- The infant Jesus holds a crown of roses, symbolizing the Virgin's spiritual triumph.
- The painting was commissioned by Paolo Poggi.
- Sirani was commissioned by Grand Duke Cosimo III de Medici and Prince Leopold of Tuscany.
- She ran her own studio at age 19 and was the highest-paid female artist in Bologna.
- She died at age 27 from perforated stomach ulcers, not poisoning as initially suspected.
- She trained at least 14 female students who became professional artists.
- She produced over 150 paintings, drawings, and etchings.
Entities
Artists
- Elisabetta Sirani
- Caravaggio
- Artemisia Gentileschi
Institutions
- National Museum of Women in the Arts
Locations
- Bologna
- Italy
- Washington, DC
- USA