The Forgotten Masters of the Renaissance: Rescuing the Women Artists of the 15th and 16th Centuries. The Renaissance is one of the most influential periods in the history of Western art. Between the 15th and 16th centuries, Europe underwent an unprecedented cultural transformation: rediscovery of classical antiquity, scientific advances, development of new painting techniques and consolidation of the artist as an intellectual figure. However, the traditional narrative of the Renaissance has been dominated almost exclusively by male names. While figures such as Leonardo, Michelangelo or Raphael occupied the center of the historical narrative, many women artists were relegated to footnotes or disappeared completely from the official records. This article seeks to rescue some of those names, contextualize their careers and recognize the relevance of their works. Because art history is not complete without them. The context: why they were made invisible. To understand their absence in the manuals, it is necessary to understand the social constraints of the time. During the 15th and 16th centuries, women had very restricted access to formal education. Artistic training tended to take place in workshops, male-dominated spaces where female presence was exceptional. Apprenticeship involved studying anatomy, attending nude models and participating in public commissions, something that was culturally considered inappropriate for women. Moreover, artistic academies, which began to be institutionalized at the end of the Renaissance, almost completely excluded female creators. Many artists were only able to train in family workshops, working alongside fathers or brothers. In many cases, their works were not signed or were attributed to men in the same workshop. This practice contributed to their later invisibility. Despite these barriers, some managed to develop remarkable careers and achieve recognition during their lifetime.
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A course by Paula Casella Biase
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