18 February 2019

Lavinia Fontana (Italian painter, 1552-1614) Portrait of Bianca Degli Utili Masselli

The five ‘forgotten’ women painters three weeks ago were all amazing but there was one that was especially unforgettable: Lavinia Fontana (1552-1614). She had a way of painting that made her subjects SO realistic, almost as though they were going to walk in to the room. Also the dogs (one every day this week) are sweet! This is Portrait of Bianca Degli Utili  Maselli with six of her children.  (It was first owned by the sitter’s family; then the Bartoli family; then the Marchetti Family; and then was sold at Sotheby’s in 2012. Who is the lucky owner now?)