The paintings, drawings, sculptures, and prints the late Jane Fortune refers to above were found in museum storage spaces throughout Florence.
Many female creators were acclaimed during their lifetimes. By the time Fortune set about restoring their work—and visibility —to the public view, they were virtually unknown, even to museum staff.
This might change as early as the fall of 2019, when A Space of Their Own, an illustrated online database of over 600 female artists working in the US and Europe between the 15th and 19th centuries, launches.
In preparation for their reintroduction, many artworks appearing on A Space of Their Own have undergone extensive restoration, courtesy of Jane Fortune's nonprofit Advancing Women Artists.
Intriguingly, women make up the majority of art restorers in Florence. That professional dominance can be traced back to the mid-60s, when a catastrophic flood laid waste to millions of the city’s art treasures. “It was the first time women began wearing trousers in Florence,” Linda Falcone, AWA’s current director told artnet. “Women’s liberation in Florence is deeply linked to the art restoration effort.”
Saint Catherine with Lily by Plautilla Nelli
Many artists in the database were self-taught, barred from seeking formal training, or studying anatomy on account of their gender. They couldn't hope to make a living from their talents when women were forbidden from issuing invoices. And then, of course, there are the demands of marriage and motherhood.
David and Bathsheba by Artemisia Gentileschi
Small wonder they've been so underrepresented in museums and art history books.
Self-portrait by Leonetta Pieraccini Cecchi
Peruse a menu of paintings in need of restoration sponsorship and learn more about the artists on AWA’s website. Sign up for the newsletter for updates in advance of A Space of Their Own's grand opening.
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