News & Stories

Although women artists are documented throughout the history of Venetian art, we know relatively little about their lives and production, with a few exceptions. In recent decades a growing body of research in Bologna and Florence has resurrected female artists and artisans previously unknown, allowing their achievements in those cities to be more fully appreciated. The time is ripe for an investigation on a similar scale in Venice and its territories under the Republic.

Save Venice is spearheading an effort to recover the history of women artists and artisans who were born in or active in Venice in the early modern period. This will be accomplished through an ambitious program of art conservation, scientific and scholarly research, and the coordination of findings and fostering of dialogue through conferences, publications, and exhibitions. The Women Artists of Venice program, or WAV, will build upon the successes of systematic restoration treatments and publications sponsored by Save Venice in recent years, such as those dedicated to Vittore Carpaccio (c. 1465-1525), Jacopo Tintoretto (c. 1519-1594), and other Venetian artists.

As part of Save Venice’s 50th anniversary this autumn, Women Artists of Venice launches in 2021 with plans to conserve paintings and pastels by Rosalba Carriera (1763-1757), Giulia Lama (1681-1747), and Marianna Carlevarijs (1703-1750) held in Venetian churches and museum collections. The roster of treatments will be augmented in future years as new works are discovered and new attributions made. A goal is to examine, record, and consider for restoration all pre-nineteenth century works by women artists to be found in Venice.

The art history track of WAV will be led by Tracy E. Cooper, professor at Temple University and member of the board of Save Venice. The art conservation track of WAV will be led by Melissa Conn, Director of the Venice Office of Save Venice. In consultation with the board of Save Venice and a wide network of specialists, they will direct a robust program to synthesize existing scholarship and enable new research, eventually disseminating the results to the public. As time goes on, we hope to expand into related realms of creativity by women in early modern Venice, potentially including patrons and collectors of art. We look forward to announcing details about this exciting venture this autumn. To learn more about how you can support WAV, or sponsor the restoration of art by a woman artist of Venice, contact us today.