How might we summarize our discussion of art patronage in early modern Italy? Certainly, negotiation and mediation continue to be themes in our examination of women and Western art, as Heather’s discussion of Vittoria Colonna demonstrated. Joanna explored with us how some women, namely Isabella d’Este, could take on a type of art patronage (mythological painting) that was characteristic of male patrons and develop a strategy for presentation of self through art. In both cases, the female patron’s family is important — an earlier thread returns.
What models did women artists and patrons have as examples? Lavinia was clearly aware of Sofonisba; Properzia likely recognized Michelangelo as a model to follow in art. But who did women patrons look to as models? Isabella could easily look to contemporary male patrons…she clearly understood that art collecting = identity formation and power. What else might art collecting mean to Isabella? And what did art collecting mean to someone such as Vittoria Colonna?
Summary thoughts?
