historicwomen:Caterina van Hemessen 1528- 1587Caterina van Hemessen was a Flemish Renaissance painte
historicwomen:Caterina van Hemessen 1528- 1587Caterina van Hemessen was a Flemish Renaissance painter and one of the earliest woman painters who have extensive documented work. She is credited with being the first artist to paint a self portrait in front of an easel, as pictured above. Caterina was taught to paint by her father. She became a very successful artist in her time, among her patrons was Queen Mary of Hungary. Her famous self portrait was made when Caterina was twenty years old. She became the teacher of three male students because of her good position with the guild of St. Luke. Mary the Queen of Hungary greatly admired the artist and she became Caterina’s main patron. When she returned to Spain, she invited Caterina to join her. Caterina and her husband went to Spain, the Queen died two years later and left Caterina with a healthy pension. Caterina was mentioned in Guicciardini’s Description of the Low Countries as one of the living women artists. There are no paintings by Caterina after the date 1554, which has led many experts to believe she stopped painting when she married. -- source link
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