Spinario

Have you heard of the Renaissance artist, Diana Scultori?  She was the first-ever female engraver to sign and market her own prints. Born in Mantua into a family of artists, she was trained in engraving by her father, Giovanni Battista Scultori, at a time when artistic education and professional careers were largely inaccessible to women. Her technical skill impressed contemporaries, including the artist and biographer Giorgio Vasari, who praised her talent and included her in his celebrated Lives of the Artists.

Working first in Mantua and later in Rome, Scultori specialized in engravings after the designs of leading artists, including works associated with the circle of Giulio Romano. Her prints helped disseminate some of the most admired artistic compositions of the period to a wider audience. In 1575, she achieved a historic milestone by obtaining a papal privilege granting her the exclusive right to publish and sell her own engravings—an unprecedented honor for a woman artist.

Scultori was also a shrewd businesswoman. She carefully signed her works, using names such as Diana Mantuana or Diana Mantovana, creating a recognizable artistic brand. Through collaborations with publishers, patrons, and her architect husband, Francesco Capriani, she built a successful professional career.

The engraving The Spinario demonstrates her mastery of the medium. Depicting the famous ancient statue of a boy removing a thorn from his foot, the print showcases her great ability to render it properly. Like much of her work, it reflects the Renaissance fascination with classical antiquity while also highlighting the technical precision that made Scultori one of the most respected printmakers of her time.

P.S. Learn more about influential women in the Renaissance, including artists, patrons, and powerful cultural figures, in our online course, The Art of the Renaissance Florence. 

P.P.S. Ancient sculptures were a huge inspiration for Renaissance artists. Discover the fascinating Hellenistic sculpture Boxer at Rest!