Netherlandish and Italian Female Portraiture in the Fifteenth Century: Gender, Identity, and the Tradition of Power

This book explores fifteenth-century female portraiture on panel, examining the aesthetic and conceptual characteristics of the portraits and their relationship to the patriarchal system. It is the first systematic study of their sign-system and the feminine experience of seeing and being seen, offering new interpretations of form and function, women's active role in the imaging process, and early instances of a pro-women ideology.

Format: Hardback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 19 September 2022
Publisher: Amsterdam University Press

This captivating book delves into the intricate world of fifteenth-century female portraiture on panel, exploring the aesthetic and conceptual dimensions that shaped this artistic genre. During this remarkable century, the portrayal of women experienced a significant surge, becoming an integral part of a material and visual culture that emerged as a result of the rapid ascent of an oligarchy driven by entrepreneurial endeavors, particularly prominent in the urbanized regions of Italy and Flanders. Consequently, the portraits featured in this book were created by talented Netherlandish and Italian artists, showcasing both the emancipation of the genre from its medieval roots and the nuanced responses to the patriarchal matrix that governed society.

Patriarchy, an androcentric system, paradoxically disenfranchises women by attributing their purported psychophysical inadequacies to legal and social marginalization. However, it also positions them as catalysts for male-dominated power spheres through arranged marriages. Thus, these portraits offer a unique window into the lives of women within this patriarchal framework.

This groundbreaking book stands as the first systematic exploration of the sign-system and the feminine experience of seeing and being seen, drawing upon disciplines such as art history, anthropology, legal history, and philosophy. The surprising findings unveiled in this study shed new light on the form and function of female portraiture, highlighting the active role of women in the imaging process and the early manifestations of a pro-women ideology. Through its comprehensive analysis, this book provides a rich and nuanced understanding of fifteenth-century female portraiture, contributing to our appreciation of this artistic genre and its profound impact on the historical and cultural landscape.

Dimension: 240 x 170 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789463728614