Lavinia Fontana, born on August 24, 1552, was a pioneering Italian Mannerist painter known for her portraiture, as well as works in mythology and religious painting, trained by her father Prospero Fontana. She successfully navigated a career reliant on commissions, a rarity for women at the time.
She is regarded as the first female career artist in Western Europe, paving the way for future generations of women in the arts.
Artists involved
