When did catharina van hemessen die

Anna Ingram 28 September min Read. European Art. Do you know which artist created the very first self-portrait depicting themselves at work? Let me introduce you to Catharina van Hemessen. She was also the first female Renaissance artist who signed and dated her work. Talented in making small portraits of women, her attention to detail was impeccably delicate compared to the known masters of portraiture.

Fontana self-portrait

Luckily, she was the daughter of distinguished Mannerist painter Jan Sanders van Hemessen. Growing up, her father taught her how to paint, eventually leading her to become a master in the Guild of Saint Luke. Today, there are about ten paintings attributed to Van Hemessen: eight portraits and two religious works. However, she is best known for her small-scale portraits of women completed between the late s into the s.

At 20 years old, Van Hemessen painted this self-portrait that is now at the Kunstmuseum Basel in Switzerland. In this painting, she is seated at an easel with her gaze falling upon the viewer. Yes, the composition of this work certainly feels eerie with the stark background and muted colors; however, the artist strategically implemented her artistic knowledge to appeal to contemporary patrons.

Little did she know this piece would become the oldest surviving self-portrait of an artist male or female actively painting in Western art. Throughout her career, Catharina van Hemessen was interested in painting women enjoying an activity.