Study day: Women and art in early modern Italy - viewers, patrons and collectors
Discover the role of women as patrons, collectors and commissioners of art during the Renaissance and the early modern period. Focusing on the period between 1450 and 1650, this session explores how elite women influenced artistic production and cultural life across Italy and beyond. Through objects ranging from marriage chests to portraits, devotional works and major commissions, we will examine the ways women engaged with th...
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The Renaissance is often associated with great male artists and powerful male patrons, yet women played a significant role in shaping artistic culture during this period. Whether as wives, widows, nuns or rulers, elite women commissioned, collected and displayed works of art that reflected their social status, personal aspirations and political ambitions.
This session examines the relationship between women and the visual arts between 1450 and 1650, beginning with the objects created specifically for women. We will explore artworks associated with marriage and family life, including richly decorated marriage chests (cassoni), examining the moral, social and political messages these objects conveyed to young brides entering elite households.
The session will then explore women's involvement in artistic patronage and collecting. Using portraits, devotional images and other commissioned works as case studies, we will consider how wives, widows and nuns participated in and shaped artistic culture.
While Isabella d'Este, Marchioness of Mantua, remains one of the best-documented female patrons of the Renaissance, thanks to her extensive correspondence with artists and friends, this session also highlights a broader range of female patrons and collectors whose contributions have often received less attention.
What will we cover?
· The role of elite women in Renaissance society and their relationship with art and material culture
· Marriage chests (cassoni), portraits and other artworks created for women and their social significance
· Women's involvement in commissioning, collecting and displaying art as wives, widows, nuns and rulers
· Isabella d'Este and other influential female patrons and collectors across Renaissance Italy
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
· Describe the various ways elite women engaged with the arts during the Renaissance
· Identify the social, political and religious factors that shaped female patronage and collecting practices
· Discuss how artworks associated with women reflected contemporary ideals of gender, family and status
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for all levels.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught with lecture, slide presentations, activities and group discussions. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Introduction to the Italian Renaissance
Women of the art world: Renaissance and Baroque eras
Elisa Stafferini is an art historian specialising in Renaissance and early modern Italian art. She recently completed her PhD at the Warburg Institute with a thesis entitled Women in Arms: Female Warriors in Italian Art, 1500–1700. She holds a BA and an MA summa cum laude from La Sapienza Università di Roma. Elisa has held research appointments at the University of Oxford, at the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz (KHI), and at the Scuola Normale Superiore (SNS) in Pisa. Her research interests encompass early modern visual culture, iconography and iconology, gender and politics in art, and the relationship between word and image. She has delivered lectures on Renaissance art and iconography in both Italy and the UK and currently teaches the module “Art in London before 1600” at University College London.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
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https://www.citylit.ac.uk/study-day-women-and-art-in-early-modern-italy-viewers-patrons-and-collectors3077032Study day: Women and art in early modern Italy - viewers, patrons and collectorshttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/an-introduction-to-european-decorative-arts-at-the-v_a-vb909-1024.jpg7979GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Early modern world22851136117718891228511771136<p>Discover the role of women as patrons, collectors and commissioners of art during the Renaissance and the early modern period. Focusing on the period between 1450 and 1650, this session explores how elite women influenced artistic production and cultural life across Italy and beyond. Through objects ranging from marriage chests to portraits, devotional works and major commissions, we will examine the ways women engaged with the art world as viewers, patrons and collectors.</p>003077023Study day: Women and art in early modern Italy - viewers, patrons and collectors7979https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/an-introduction-to-european-decorative-arts-at-the-v_a-vb909-1024.jpgInStockDaytimeSunKeeley StreetAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekend2026-11-22T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allNov 2026Culture, history & humanitiesVB3307979Study day: Women and art in early modern Italy - viewers, patrons and collectors635179Elisa Stafferinistudy-day-women-and-art-in-early-modern-italy-viewers-patrons-and-collectors/vb330-2627<p>Discover the role of women as patrons, collectors and commissioners of art during the Renaissance and the early modern period. Focusing on the period between 1450 and 1650, this session explores how elite women influenced artistic production and cultural life across Italy and beyond. Through objects ranging from marriage chests to portraits, devotional works and major commissions, we will examine the ways women engaged with the art world as viewers, patrons and collectors.</p>0000-Available|2026-11-22 00:00:00<p>The Renaissance is often associated with great male artists and powerful male patrons, yet women played a significant role in shaping artistic culture during this period. Whether as wives, widows, nuns or rulers, elite women commissioned, collected and displayed works of art that reflected their social status, personal aspirations and political ambitions.</p><p>This session examines the relationship between women and the visual arts between 1450 and 1650, beginning with the objects created specifically for women. We will explore artworks associated with marriage and family life, including richly decorated marriage chests (cassoni), examining the moral, social and political messages these objects conveyed to young brides entering elite households.</p><p>The session will then explore women's involvement in artistic patronage and collecting. Using portraits, devotional images and other commissioned works as case studies, we will consider how wives, widows and nuns participated in and shaped artistic culture.</p><p>While Isabella d'Este, Marchioness of Mantua, remains one of the best-documented female patrons of the Renaissance, thanks to her extensive correspondence with artists and friends, this session also highlights a broader range of female patrons and collectors whose contributions have often received less attention.</p><p>Discover the role of women as patrons, collectors and commissioners of art during the Renaissance and the early modern period. Focusing on the period between 1450 and 1650, this session explores how elite women influenced artistic production and cultural life across Italy and beyond. Through objects ranging from marriage chests to portraits, devotional works and major commissions, we will examine the ways women engaged with the art world as viewers, patrons and collectors.</p><p>· The role of elite women in Renaissance society and their relationship with art and material culture</p><p>· Marriage chests (cassoni), portraits and other artworks created for women and their social significance</p><p>· Women's involvement in commissioning, collecting and displaying art as wives, widows, nuns and rulers</p><p>· Isabella d'Este and other influential female patrons and collectors across Renaissance Italy</p><p>· Describe the various ways elite women engaged with the arts during the Renaissance</p><p>· Identify the social, political and religious factors that shaped female patronage and collecting practices</p><p>· Discuss how artworks associated with women reflected contemporary ideals of gender, family and status</p><p>This course is suitable for all levels.</p><p>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion.</p><p>You will be taught with lecture, slide presentations, activities and group discussions. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course. </p><p>You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided.</p><p>Introduction to the Italian Renaissance</p><p>Women of the art world: Renaissance and Baroque eras</p>Art historyEarly modern worldvirtual637951VB330NONESun22/11/2610:30 - 16:3010:3016:301 session1One-off onlyDaytimeWeekendKSKeeley StreetElisa StafferiniBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-11-22T00:00:00+00:00Nov 2026Culture, history & humanities7979Study day: Women and art in early modern Italy - viewers, patrons and collectorsstudy-day-women-and-art-in-early-modern-italy-viewers-patrons-and-collectors/vb330-2627<p>Discover the role of women as patrons, collectors and commissioners of art during the Renaissance and the early modern period. Focusing on the period between 1450 and 1650, this session explores how elite women influenced artistic production and cultural life across Italy and beyond. Through objects ranging from marriage chests to portraits, devotional works and major commissions, we will examine the ways women engaged with the art world as viewers, patrons and collectors.</p>0000-Available|2026-11-22 00:00:00<p>The Renaissance is often associated with great male artists and powerful male patrons, yet women played a significant role in shaping artistic culture during this period. Whether as wives, widows, nuns or rulers, elite women commissioned, collected and displayed works of art that reflected their social status, personal aspirations and political ambitions.</p><p>This session examines the relationship between women and the visual arts between 1450 and 1650, beginning with the objects created specifically for women. We will explore artworks associated with marriage and family life, including richly decorated marriage chests (cassoni), examining the moral, social and political messages these objects conveyed to young brides entering elite households.</p><p>The session will then explore women's involvement in artistic patronage and collecting. Using portraits, devotional images and other commissioned works as case studies, we will consider how wives, widows and nuns participated in and shaped artistic culture.</p><p>While Isabella d'Este, Marchioness of Mantua, remains one of the best-documented female patrons of the Renaissance, thanks to her extensive correspondence with artists and friends, this session also highlights a broader range of female patrons and collectors whose contributions have often received less attention.</p><p>Discover the role of women as patrons, collectors and commissioners of art during the Renaissance and the early modern period. Focusing on the period between 1450 and 1650, this session explores how elite women influenced artistic production and cultural life across Italy and beyond. Through objects ranging from marriage chests to portraits, devotional works and major commissions, we will examine the ways women engaged with the art world as viewers, patrons and collectors.</p><p>· The role of elite women in Renaissance society and their relationship with art and material culture</p><p>· Marriage chests (cassoni), portraits and other artworks created for women and their social significance</p><p>· Women's involvement in commissioning, collecting and displaying art as wives, widows, nuns and rulers</p><p>· Isabella d'Este and other influential female patrons and collectors across Renaissance Italy</p><p>· Describe the various ways elite women engaged with the arts during the Renaissance</p><p>· Identify the social, political and religious factors that shaped female patronage and collecting practices</p><p>· Discuss how artworks associated with women reflected contemporary ideals of gender, family and status</p><p>This course is suitable for all levels.</p><p>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion.</p><p>You will be taught with lecture, slide presentations, activities and group discussions. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course. </p><p>You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided.</p><p>Introduction to the Italian Renaissance</p><p>Women of the art world: Renaissance and Baroque eras</p>Art historyEarly modern worldconfigurable
18891136Early modern worldhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/art-history/early-modern-world1/2/285/1177/1136/18891/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Early modern world
