We know that sixteenth-century Venice pullulated with women artists, including Marietta Robusti, Ottavia and Perina Robusti (embroiderers and sisters of Marietta), Gasparina Pittoni (known as Pittonia), Bernardina di Zuan Mathio, Campaspe Giancarli, and Irene da Spilimbergo. Less is known about the women artists who followed in their immediate wake. To fill this gap, this talk examines Giovanna Garzoni’s (1600–1670) early career in Venice up until her departure in 1630. Topics to be addressed include her early Venetian commissions, her brief marriage, her probable encounter there with Artemisia Gentileschi (1593–1654?), and her abiding interest in Venetian masters of the sixteenth century.

Presented by Dr. Sheila Barker, Founding Director of the Jane Fortune Research Program on Women Artists at The Medici Archive Project; and Adjunct Associate Professor of History of Art at the University of Pennsylvania.

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