BY KAREN BOSSICK
Judith Leyster, a Dutch Golden Age painter of the 1600s, was highly regarded by her contemporaries.
But her entire portfolio was attributed to her husband until 1893. Even the inventory of her estate attributed may of her paintings, which frequently involved portrait-like scenes, to “the wife of Molenaer,” not to Judith Leyster.
Artemisia Gentileschi, an Italian Baroque painter, was considered among the most accomplished 17th century artists, having produced professional work by age 15 in an era when women had few opportunities to work as professional artists.
But her talent was overshadowed by a sexual assault by one of her colleagues.
Learn more about both of these women when Elaine French presents an art history lecture titled “Two Women Artists of the Baroque Era.” The lecture will be livestreamed online via Crowdcast at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24, as part of the Sun Valley Museum of Art’s current BIG IDEA project looking at how women have used their talents to create change in the world.
French will examine the similarities and differences in the two women’s paintings, how Caravaggio’s impact showed in in both women’s work and how their gender impacted their career paths.
French holds a master’s degree in art history from San Jose State University with a thesis that deals with an early Italian Renaissance manuscript illumination. She has taught art history at San Jose State and the College of Southern Idaho.
She also has a doctoral degree in educational psychology from Stanford, a master’s in education from Harvard and a bachelor’s degree in art history from Wellesley College.
“Elaine French has a plethora of knowledge when it comes to Baroque art history, and we are thrilled to have her share another one of her informative lectures with our community,” said Jeanne Knott, Visual Arts Class Assistant at SVMoA. “She is excited to talk about two very different women artists and how their art was perceived in 17th-century Europe.”
Pre-registration for Elaine French’s art history lecture is required, and tuition is $10 for SVMoA members and $12 for nonmembers. The lecture will take place online via the link provided following registration. To register for the event, visit svmoa.org, call 208-726-9491 or visit The Museum box office at 191 Fifth Street East in Ketchum.