Elisabetta Sirani Biography
Elisabetta Sirani was an Italian painter, born in Bologna in 1638, who lived during the Counter-Reformation period. Sirani was active throughout her career in the city of Bologna, a rich and stimulating cultural environment. A cultured painter, avid reader and good musician, Sirani managed to make space for herself in an environment almost entirely dominated by men. Daughter of Giovan Andrea, also a painter and art dealer and pupil of Guido Reni, Sirani learned techniques and models in her father's workshop, so much so that at just seventeen she began to paint on commission, also creating small-sized paintings for private devotion . The young artist developed an extraordinary personal technique: the creation of quick sketches was followed by watercolor studies and, despite a great speed of execution, she did not neglect the slightest detail of the work. Sirani is known for her depictions of allegorical and sacred themes, such as the Madonnas, as well as portraits of female heroines, taken from classical mythology. In his works he often loves to put his signature on buttons, necklines or lace. Tireless and almost feverish activity was the main cause of the illness that led the artist to an early death due to a severe gastric ulcer. Elisabetta Sirani died on 28 August 1665 in Bologna, at the age of twenty-seven.
