Post 2

Women in the middle ages had very difficult lives arguably far more than men. The same privileges afforded to men were not afforded to women. Women in the Middle Ages were expected to stay at home and take care of the family, they could not work independently as men or own a business. What was afforded to women and their works was working at their father’s business, or brother or any male figure of relation.  Biblical teachings which were pervasive in the middle ages and subjugated women father reinforced the roles of women in society. “Let the woman live in silence with all subjection. But suffer not woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over man, but to be in silence – New testament Timothy, 2:11: -12” (Guerrilla Girls 19) Women were mainly confined to the roles of motherhood. Yet some women were able to escape such life by becoming nuns, artists, and writers. The middle ages afforded very few women with the freedom they desired.

During the Renaissance period, an era that span from the 14^th to 17^th century women were allotted more freedom than in the Middle Ages. Yet women did not have the same rights as men politically speaking and were servants to their husbands and fathers. The renaissance period was a more humanist period relatively compared to the Middle Ages that gave birth to the printing press and a more liberal point of views. Women in the Renaissance were still viewed in societal terms as less than men. And roles were also dictated by men. Yet, during the Renaissance period it gave rise to notable women artist who were forgotten and their works less praised as their male counterparts.  Yet some women were able to relish this period and become great artists. One notable female artist during the period is Sofonisba Anguissola born in 1532 was a painter who was born in a noble family.  Because of her family’s wealth she was able to receive great education and was later able to work as an apprentice. She traveled around the world and created fine art. Women who were not married had very little independence and could not live alone depending on the class they were born to it dictated what they could and couldn’t do. Women of middle class mostly worked with their husbands and fathers to further the family business. Women of higher class were entertainers and were tasked with household duties.

A few wealthy women like Sofonisba were able to break away from such distasteful traditions and curve their own path. Receiving recognition from notable male artists like Michelangelo for their fine work.  As a member of a noble family she enjoyed a life style that was granted to her based on her class. She received a great education in fine arts. And one of her first ground breaking work was a double portrait called the Bernardino Campi. Her experiences shed light contrary to what women’s role in society was and the great works that women produced during the time in spite of their subjugation by a male dominated society.

Being a female artist required a lot of hard work even with superior talent it was difficult for female artists to gain the same recognition for their work as male artists did. To overcome this some women artists worked under an established male artist not only to gain expertise but recognition for their work. Apprenticeship provided women artists with expertise and ability to have their work recognized and displayed to the world.