Elisabetta Sirani
On this day in 1638, Elisabetta Sirani, an Italian Baroque painter and printmaker, was born. She was one of the first women artists in early modern Bologna and established an academy for other women artists. She died in unexplained circumstances at the age of 27, so her paintings that remain are invaluable.
The original story behind the painting we present today was described by Plutarch, who recounts the tale of Timoclea, raped by a Thracian captain under Alexander the Great, himself also named Alexander. Timoclea confronts her assailant, feigning submission while plotting revenge. She laments her fate, telling him "that though all other things had been lost, I might have preserved my body free from abuse." She then lures him to an empty well where her valuables are supposedly hidden, pushes him in, and seals his fate by hurling heavy stones after him.
In Sirani's painting, Timoclea is the central figure rather than a footnote in Alexander the Great's saga. Male authors and artists often reduced her narrative to a minor anecdote about Alexander’s supposed magnanimity, as he spared Timoclea’s life upon learning her brother was part of a famed military unit of 150 pairs of male lovers.
Sirani was also extraordinary in another way: she added her name to the stone next to the water pitcher: "ELISAB. SIRANI. F."—which was a rare act even among her male contemporaries in Bologna. Sirani was confident and self-aware as an artist. It is a real shame that she died so early.
P.S. Learn more about the fascinating life of Elisabetta Sirani! She was such a pioneer! If you want to test yourself when it comes to other inspiring artists, take our QUIZ: How Well Do You Know Early Women Painters?
P.P.S. If you love works created by exceptional women artists, you should visit our online DailyArt Shop, where you can buy our beautiful postcard set dedicated to them, as well as other artsy goods full of their artworks. :)