Women in the Renaissance
The women of the Renaissance not only experienced a great rebirth in classical humanism, but they also contributed largely in both the artistic and political aspects in the Renaissance. This is proved by the numerous female individuals that still remain as the greatest Renaissance figures in history. The birth of classical humanism in the female world was defended and acknowledged by prominent figures such as Laura Cereta and Lucretia Marinella. The artistic world of the Renaissance delivered talented artists and musicians like Lavinia Fontana and Madalena Casulana. And finally, the most notable characters of the Renaissance was the Queen of England, Elizabeth I. Queen Elizabeth not only was able to rise to a powerful position of political status, but she also had the strength to move the land of England into a period of peace and artistic prosper. Although the Renaissance is highly dominated by the male world, we shouldn't forget the importance of the few female individuals who took advantage of this time of enlightenment and shared with the world, their individuality and intelligence.
Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci, Galleria dell'...
The Mona Lisa.
Queen Elizabeth ParkWomen humanists of the Renaissance were limited to the few wealthy aristocrat families in England. According to "The Book of the Courtier," an ideal woman of the Renaissance was one who had the knowledge of classical education to entertain her husband. Although the purpose of educating a woman was solely for the man's entertainment, this idea proved to be a great stepping stone to a woman's independence. Most of the educated women in the Renaissance were from upper class families who had the incredible opportunity to give their children a humanistic education. Laura Cereta was from a Brescian Aristocratic family who was fortunate enough to study the art of humanism. She diligently studied throughout her lifetime and was able to form...