lavinia fontana autoportrait

She wears a dress in the traditional color of Bolognese wedding dresses and is covered in coral, gold and pearled jewelry. Although I appreciate your writing on Lavinia Fontana. I have thought about Hasan a lot lately, particularly because I think he would enjoy some of the topics I am exploring with my students. . Art. Lavinia FONTANA, "L'homme sauvage" Histoire & Image, L2 Histoire Lyon Nous traiterons ici, à partir du portrait de Tognina Gonsalvus peint par Lavinia Fontana, de la vie de l'artiste et de la signification du tableau, aussi en le replaçant dans une plus large perspective des représentations de ces raretés de la nature, mi-hommes mi-animaux, dont l'iconographie est remplie à l'époque moderne. See Liana De Girolami Cheney, et. She was one of the first women to execute large, publicly commissioned figure paintings. (3). I think this Latin inscription is rather interesting, since it is indicative of the social situation for female Renaissance artists. She is regarded as the first female career artist in Western Europe as she relied on commissions for her income. Selle eelvaate suurus: 524 × 600 pikslit. . He is sorely missed. See also Babette Bohn, “Female Self-Portraiture in Early Modern Bologna,” in Renaissance Studies 18, no. Lavinia Fontana est l'unique enfant de Prospero Fontana et d'Antonia de' Bonardis. Quand elle épouse, en 1557, le peintre Gian Paolo Zappi, son talent est déjà reconnu et elle réalise les portraits de notables de Bologne. Teised eraldusvõimed: 210 × 240 pikslit | 419 × 480 pikslit | 671 × 768 pikslit | 895 × 1024 pikslit | 4829 × 5527 pikslit. • 1577 : Autoportrait au clavicorde accompagné d'une servante, Accademia Nazionale di San Luca, Rome. This painting, Self-Portrait at the Spinet (also called Self-Portrait at the Keyboard) was made in 1577 for Fontana’s future father-in-law, Severo Zappi.2 I think Fontana felt some pressure at this time, since she was marrying into a family which held a higher social status than her own.3 One senses that Fontana felt a need to emphasize her wealth and status by observing various elements in her painting: her lavish clothing, jewels, and a servant in the background. I thought that this month I would post one or two of the guests posts that I wrote for Hasan’s blog. The red knot is also discussed in Caroline P. Murphy, Lavinia Fontana: A Painter and her Patrons in Sixteenth-century Bologna (New Haven and London, 2003), 41–3. Excellent post, which I didn’t see the first time. (17) Ciacon knew of Fontana’s work and requested she send him “a little portrait of yourself… which can then accompany that of Sophonisba which shall thus be seen and looked at and recognized by everyone as it shall be made into a print among those five hundred illustrious men and women which shall be engraved in copper at the expense of his Grace the Archduke Ferdinand of Austria.” (18). 2012. A la différence de sa consoeur ainée, spécialisée dans les portraits, elle exécutait des grandes commandes publiques aux sujets mythologiques et … She manifests her scholarly pursuits (she’s not just a mere “craftswoman”) by showing herself among anatomical casts and classical statuettes. (4) Self Portrait at the Keyboard was a painting produced by Fontana for her future father-in-law, Severo Zappi. Also, this uncertainty protected her from the “perception, inherited from her father, of the greater regard for scholars than for artists in Bologna.” (19) She is shown in a position which sends the message that she is inspired by both intellectual and creative activity. . Lavinia Fontana (August 24, 1552 – August 11, 1614) was an Italian painter. Son père est peintre de la contre-réforme très en vogue auprès des papes. Lavinia Fontana, autoportrait; ca. Fontana also chooses to emphasize her accomplishments and abilities: she is playing an instrument and her easel is distinctly placed in the background. 19.1 (1998): 3-8. 12 janv. Lavinia Fontana, (born 1552, Bologna [Italy]—died August 11, 1614, Rome), Italian painter of the Mannerist school and one of the most important portraitists in Bologna during the late 16th century. 40. Voir plus d'idées sur le thème femme peintre, peintres italiens, peintre. For more information, see Liana De Girolami Cheney, et. Autoportrait avec un chien (Autorretrato con Perro Itzcuintli) a été réalisé en 1938 par la peintre mexicaine autodidacte Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), … Antonietta Gonzalez (as well as her father, two sisters and other family members) had hypertrichosis (also … ), musée du château d'Udine, Frioul-Vénétie julienne, vendredi 26 août 2011, Explore Renaud Camus' photos on Flickr. Re your note that Fontana was careful in how she had presented herself, in order to meet societal expectations. Continuing the family business was typical at the time. ), musée du château d'Udine, Frioul-Vénétie julienne, vendredi 26 août 2011, Explore Renaud Camus' photos on Flickr. My problem is that it is difficult for us to establish what the artist’s true values were. Charles Rennie Mackintosh, 1925, RT @WMGallery: Are you thinking about learning a new skill during lockdown? Our embroidery kit…. This portrait is a tondo painted on copper (1579) and was created expressly for placement in a collection. Le Jour ni l'Heure 3744 : Lavinia Fontana Zappi, 1552-1614, autoportrait (? Lavinia Fontana (Bologne 1552 – Rome 1614) Vénus et l’amour 1592, Huile sur toile l Dépôt de l’Etat, 1874 l Inv. Voir plus d'idées sur … 11 McIver, Katherine. Fue hija del pintor Prospero Fontana, pintor de la escuela de Bolonia, que le enseñó el oficio. -Self Portraits- -Noblewomen- -Gozzadini Family Portrait- -Tognina Gonzales- -Extended Bibliography- Lavinia Fontana. Find more prominent … L’autoportrait suppose en principe l’utilisation d’un miroir, instrument qui se développe à partir du XVe siècle. Lavinia Fontana est l'unique enfant de Prospero Fontana et d'Antonia de' Bonardis. Along these lines, as a female blogger, I sometimes find myself concerned with how I portray myself in writing. Le Jour ni l'Heure 3744 : Lavinia Fontana Zappi, 1552-1614, autoportrait (? Son autoportrait (Autoportrait au clavicorde, accompagnée de sa servante)et qui date de 1577 ou 78, elle a 25 ans, nous montre en plus qu'elle est belle et qu'elle est musicienne ! Lavinia Fontana learned painting from her father, Prospero Fontana, who was a highly-respected artist in Bologna. “Lavinia Fontana’s “Self-Portrait Making Music’.” Woman’s Art Journal. Your footnote no. 7 King, 73. I’ve never considered the role of the servant very much, beyond how she functions as a symbol of status. Hello Monica, Cantaro, Lavinia Fontana Bolognese 'pittora singolare' 1552-1614, Rome, 1989, no. Lavinia Fontana’s Self-Portrait and Gender Lavinia Fontana, Self Portrait In a Tondo, 1579 Lavinia Fontana’s self-portrait from 1579 has long been of interest to me. Influenced by painters such as Ludovico Carracci and Sofonisba Anguissola and a practicer of Italian mannerist style, Fontana became highly successful with her detailed and delicate portraits. In fact, the painting could be viewed in its entirety as a love knot– as a gift for the bethrothed.” (8) The expensive musical instrument suggests, perhaps falsely, that the Fontana family is financially stable, if not downright wealthy. Ms. Celalettin has written back to me just now and this is what she has to say: Thank you for reaching out to me and for the condolances, Hasan Niyazi is my brother. The red knot is also discussed in Caroline P. Murphy, Lavinia Fontana: A Painter and her Patrons in Sixteenth-century Bologna (New Haven and London, 2003), 41–3. Did she welcome the idea of marrying into a high status family or did she find them pompous bores? It is not until Lavinia Fontana’s Self Portrait at the Keyboard of 1577 and shortly after, her Self Portrait in the Studiolo from 1579, that the first portrait directly referring to the artist’s vocation, artistic labor, appears. (9) Because she would marry a man with higher social status than her own, it was imperative that she appear to be of a higher status than perhaps she really was. 1600. Fontana presents herself as a confident and fairly attractive woman. Fontana’s earliest self-portrait is quite unique, since it was created as a marriage portrait. New Haven: Yale University, 1989, 35-37. Since Renaissance women weren’t always in control of how they were portrayed in art (women were often depicted by male artists), I like to see how a female artist represented herself when she did have control over her image. charges. Hello Monica, 24 août 2018 - Cette épingle a été découverte par Sasamoto. Hels says: October 6, 2014 at 1:53 pm. Unsurprisingly, virginity was highly desired by prospective husbands at the time, but I think that Fontana mentions her virginity to fit further societal expectations. As I have been writing this post and thinking about Fontana, I’ve come to a realization as to why I am drawn to female self-portraits. I assumed that she is bringing music for Lavinia to play. contact with his thought. Lavinia Fontana, Autoportrait (1588) Une autre artiste (re)connue s’adonne aux autoportraits délégués : Lavinia Fontana. Therefore, painting is to be preferred to all other occupations.” (1), Throughout the Renaissance, artists struggled with how to maintain a social and intellectual status through their profession. Lavinia Fontana (née en 1552 à Bologne, morte en 1614 à Rome) est issue d’une famille bolonaise. In the portrait she sent Ciacon, Fontana is seated at a desk with books, statues and paper in front of her. Or maybe improving an existing one? Babette Bohn says that due to this, “it is less common to find 16th century artistic self portraits that explicitly identify their subjects’ artistic vocation.” (2) Palettes, brushes, drawings, and easels rarely appear. À 25 ans, en 1577, Lavinia Fontana épouse un peintre mineur Gian Paolo Zappi d'Imola, qui arrête sa carrière pour devenir son assistant. 18.2 (2004): 239-86. Fontana looks confident and comfortable in her environment, even though this is the only self-portrait from the sixteenth century in which a female is seem studying the antique nude. would potentially benefit. (21). I also miss the enthusiastic emails, comments, and tweets that he would write. (13) Since, “the ‘emblematic significance’ of dress made possible the visible marking out of one’s parental and marital identity,” her clothing choice seems skillfully chosen. It’s nice to hear from another art historian who loves Lavinia Fontana! Renaud Camus has uploaded 26082 photos to Flickr. Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA. . The present picture is a fine studio replica of the earliest known self-portrait by Lavinia Fontana, painted in 1575 and now preserved in a private Roman collection (M.T. Renaud Camus has uploaded 25965 photos to Flickr. We have learned that his web site has now been taken down and the In addition, her knowledge and learning are emphasized by the fact that she includes a Latin inscription in the upper corner of the canvas. I’ve included that citation in the footnote and updated it accordingly. Besides evoking interesting points about chastity and propriety, the inscriptions are a reminder that the status of a woman was based on marriage, even as she shed her own identity. Autoportrait (1600), Lavinia Fontana Minerve s'Habillant (1613), Lavinia Fontana Envoyer par e-mail BlogThis! She has strong posture and her eyes gaze directly forward to the viewer. For an example of extreme modesty in portraiture, see Sophonisba Anguissola’s Self-Portrait from c. 1555, in which she modestly covers herself with a mirror (which she protectively places in front of her body like a shield). She is regarded as the first woman artist, working within the same sphere as her male counterparts, outside a court or convent. Her face, which looks forward openly, has strong features and clear skin. ), musée du château d'Udine, Frioul-Vénétie julienne, vendredi 26 août 2011, Explore Renaud Camus' photos on Flickr. Lavinia Fontana (August 24 1552-August 11 1614) was an Italian painter.. 6. 4a.7, p. 64).Created as a marriage portrait for her … As an art historian who is interested in female artists, I am particularly intrigued by the way that Lavinia Fontana chose to depict herself in self-portraits. Few artists, especially women artists, would risk expressing their true feelings in writing. (14) It is clear that the portrait was influenced by Sofonisba Anguissola’s own Self Portrait Making Music with a Maidservent from 1561, but has also been compared to several other portraits of women at the keyboard. Dec 9, 2014 - ‘Portrait of Antonietta Gonzalez’ was created in 1595 by Lavinia Fontana in Mannerism (Late Renaissance) style. L'attention qu'elle porte au détail rappelle le travail d'une autre représentante de la Renaissance originair… Commission yourself a portrait today! 'Pine Cones' reffga@goldmail.etsu.edu, Lavinia Fontana’s Self Portrait at the Keyboard of 1577, Leonardo Di Vinci said, “Painting excels and is superior in rank to music because it does not perish immediately after its creation, as happens unfortunately with music. London: Ashgate/Scolar Press, 2000, p. 60 (revised. musical notation) to Lavinia, which ultimately stresses Lavinia’s education as one who can read music? Le cadeau a été envoyé à l'occasion de la proposition de mariage, célébré le 13 Février 1577. The red knot that is placed on the instrument was a symbol of love and betrothal at the time, which can also tie into Fontana’s interest in maintaining social decorum. They attempted to establish painting as a liberal art rather than a superfluous artistic hobby. There, she thrived again with the upperclass and formed strong bonds with many noblewomen in her district. I certainly feel that way. Lavinia Fontana (August 24 1552-August 11 1614) was an Italian painter. Web. The placement of a maidservant behind her, along with her richly colored wardrobe also helped to convey Fontana as financially stable. The inscription in the right-hand corner of her portrait states: “Lavinia Fontana married into the Zappi family made this 1579.” In fact, this reference to her marriage was advantageous not only for purposes of societal decorum, but also a way to emphasize her social status, since the Zappi family held a comparatively high status in society. Biography Lavinia Fontana was born in Bologna, the daughter of the painter Prospero Fontana, who was a prominent painter of the School of Bologna at the time and served as her teacher. Although I am hopeful that the job market for women in academia is ever-improving (and equalizing), I think many women still feel cautious in how they present themselves in the academic world (in order to keep a competitive edge against men). erudition on display again for those who knew him and for those who have yet to come into community of his many admirers would very much like to see it restored in some form. I hope Lavinia was able to continue to express her individuality in spite of societal obligations. The present picture is a fine studio replica of the earliest known self-portrait by Lavinia Fontana, painted in 1575 and now preserved in a private Roman collection (M.T. all, Self-Portraits of Women Painters (London: Ashgate/Scolar Press, 2000), p. 60 (revised. Biographie. While this portrait is an obvious reference to her artistic career, Fontana still had to keep in mind her appearance for the public eye. Le Jour ni l'Heure 3744 : Lavinia Fontana Zappi, 1552-1614, autoportrait (? Le Jour ni l'Heure 3744 : Lavinia Fontana Zappi, 1552-1614, autoportrait (? Née à Bologne en 1552, Lavinia Fontana étudie la peinture maniériste auprès de son père, Prospero Fontana (1512 env.-1597), représentant mineur de l'école bolognaise. My discussion of the red knot came from the Caroline Murphy text (2003) that I mentioned in the fifth footnote, but she must have gotten that information from your previously-published/presented work. Fontana (Jean), né à Mili près de Côme en 1540, mort en 1614, fut un des architectes de l'église de Saint-Pierre de Rome, mais excella surtout dans l'hydraulique. Please note: JavaScript is required to post comments. Currently, the content of Hasan’s blog is no longer online, although I hope that will change in the near future. Elle est née à Bologne , fille de Prospero Fontana , qui était un peintre de l' école de Bologne . (7), The musical instrument itself is a symbol both of love and financial status. Her family relied on her career as a painter, and her husband served as her agent and rai… Lavinia Fontana fut la première femme à disposer officiellement d’un atelier. Hello Llana! Lavinia Fontana, “Self-Portrait at the Spinet,” 1577. (20) Her confidence and use of male statuettes “re-defines the feminine” and confronts taboos. ), musée du château d'Udine, Frioul-Vénétie julienne, vendredi 26 août 2011, Explore Renaud Camus' photos on Flickr. This might account for why the musical pages are tilted up at an angle, so they can be easily seen by the viewer. I would like to examine two of these self-portraits, including my own ideas with those that have been previously presented by Catherine King and Babette Bohn.1 I think these two portraits are quite revealing in terms of what Fontana felt was important to communicate about herself. Autoportrait dans l’atelier (1579) Huile sur cuivre, diamètre 16 cm, Galerie des Offices, Florence. Sep 23, 2020 - Lavinia Fontana – Self-portrait at the clavichord with maid-servant [1577] Selbstportrait am Clavichord mit Dienerin [1577] Rom, Accademia di San Luca Nov 26, 2018 - Explore Gordana Kotur's board "lavinia fontana" on Pinterest. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2003. On the other hand, the musical instrument also indicates an awareness of the relationship between musical talent and artistic capability. 2012. Lavinia Fontana se forme dans l'atelier de son père, où elle rencontre [2]. Lavinia Fontana va juste après Sofonisba Anquissola dans la liste des célèbres peintres de l´époque de la Renaissance. Lavinia Fontana’s portrait of Antonietta Gonzalez c. 1595. L’artiste se dépeint donc non pas comme telle mais exerçant une autre Rather painting endures… Painting satisfying the sense of sight is more noble than music which only satisfies hearing. There are five self-portraits by Lavinia Fontana that are known: four paintings and one drawing. Note … Le Jour ni l'Heure 3744 : Lavinia Fontana Zappi, 1552-1614, autoportrait (? This month marks one year since my friend Hasan Niyazi, blogger from Three Pipe Problem, unexpectedly passed away. 2 Bohn, Babette. This blog focuses on making Western art history accessible and interesting to all types of audiences: art historians, students, and anyone else who is curious about art. Vintage Art. Once again, Fontana is careful in how she has presented herself (in order to meet societal expectations). Cantaro, Lavinia Fontana Bolognese 'pittora singolare' 1552-1614, Rome, 1989, no. (A nineteenth century engraving of Fontana’s painting is helpful in seeing these details.) Lavinia Fontana : le triomphe au féminin Un nouveau pas en avant s’accomplit sous le pinceau de Lavinia Fontana (1552–1614). (23) Still, historians and critics look to Self Portrait at the Keyboard and Self Portrait in the Studiolo as the primary self portraits of a woman who may have been the most talented professional woman portrait painter in Bologna. Lovely tribute, I hope Hasan’s blog comes back online at some point! 2012. XVIIIe 14siècles, notamment chez Sofonisba Anguissola , Lavinia Fontana (fig. Lavinia Fontana (Bolonia, bautizada el 24 de agosto de 1552-Roma, 11 de agosto de 1614) fue una pintora italiana del primer barroco.Fue una de las pintoras más importantes de su época, dirigió su propio taller [1] y fue pintora oficial de la corte del papa Clemente VIII.. Renaud Camus has uploaded 25965 photos to Flickr. She was the first woman artist to paint female nudes, and possibly the first female to … Mar 16, 2015 - Find and follow posts tagged lavinia fontana on Tumblr. Required fields are marked *, You may use these HTML tags and attributes:
. Hi Dilshat! Le Jour ni l'Heure 3744 : Lavinia Fontana Zappi, 1552-1614, autoportrait (? I too, am very keen for his blog to be back online for educational purposes and for those who just wish to admire his work. Perhaps his content could be displayed again on his web site Voir plus d'idées sur le thème peintres italiens, femme peintre, mode renaissance. For more information, see Liana De Girolami Cheney, et. Thank you for your citation and information. he definitely had very good insights into western art from which a much larger community If Mr. Niyazi was some pedestrian blogger I would not bother but See more ideas about fontana, female artists, portrait. Lavinia Fontana pose le problème des femmes (11) While there is no evidence that Fontana actually played a musical instrument, her choice to include the keyboard “elevated herself from dilettante to professional… from one who practices a craft to someone with skills equal to that of the musician, poet, writer, and philosopher.” (12) This helped, too, with elevating her social and economic status in Renaissance society. 28 Jun. Dans le premier peint en 1577 nous la retrouvons installée devant un clavecin, les mains s’agitant au-dessus du clavier. (15) However, Fontana’s self portrait provides an allusion to artistic labor, with the placement of the easel behind her, a reminder of her artistic background and interests. Lavinia Fontana (August 24, 1552 – August 11, 1614) was an Italian painter. Lavinia Fontana, The Holy Family with Saint Catherine of Alexandria, 1581. Do you, by chance, have any ideas? I believe it correct that your brother, Hasan Niyazi, owned a web site called 3pipe.net. Of course, she marks the high status of Lavinia, but what exactly is she doing with musical sheets? Follow the links above for analysis and research on specific paintings. Although I don’t feel that I experience the same difficulties as women in the Renaissance period, I experience an element of self-awareness when I need to portray myself (either visually or in writing). 14 Simons, Patricia. Renaud Camus has uploaded 25646 photos to Flickr. Emma Barker, Nick Webb, and Kim Woods (London: Yale University Press, 1999), 72-74. http://www.squinchpix.com She is one of my favourites! incorrect it was not Bohn, but I, who was the first scholar to observe, associate, and published on the red knot on the clavichord as a symbol of love. To overcome this, artists often used self-portraits to emphasis socioeconomic and intellectual status. all, Lavinia Fontana’s ‘Self-Portrait’ and Gender.”, RT @geminicat7: ✨ Until tomorrow ... 28 déc. 5 Bohn, 254. “Looking a Sight: Sixteenth-Century Portraits of Woman Artists.” Zeitschrift für Kunstgeschichte. Vintage Mickey Art D.874.15 À la fin de la Renaissance, Lavinia Fontana est une artiste réputée et l’une des toutes premières femmes ), musée du château d'Udine, Frioul-Vénétie julienne, vendredi 26 août 2011, Explore Renaud Camus' photos on Flickr. Lavinia Fontana: Autoportrait au clavecin 1577 Huile sur toile - 270 × 240 mm Accademia Nazionale di San Luca, Rome . (16) He owned what he called a museo, which in essence, was a gallery of five hundred illustrious women and men of the time. With good wishes, Liana. Auto-portrait à l’épinette, Lavinia Fontana, huile sur toile, 1577, Rome, Accademia Nazionale di San Luca . Thank you for making the corrections. Web. 4 Murphy, Caroline P. Lavinia Fontana : a painter and her patrons in sixteenth-century Bologna. Après son père, son mari lui trouve ses commanditaires, diffuse et vend ses œuvres. Self Portrait in the Studiolo was painted for Alfonso Ciacon in 1579. Perhaps Fontana truly valued virginity before marriage.. or perhaps she thought it was an absurd, sexist concept. Fontana's innovative Self-Portrait Making Music with a Maid-servant differs considerably from the image projected by her old-er counterpart, Sofonisba … Dear Ms. Celalettin, Also, because this portrait would be presented next to Sophonisba’s, Fontana most likely attempted to keep up with or even outdo her contemporary. She was born in Bologna, the daughter of Prospero Fontana, who was a painter of the School of Bologna. Artemisia Gentileschi , Autoportrait comme allégorie de la peinture , années 1630, Collection royale . My very best wishes to you and please accept my condolences on your loss, Robert H. Consoli An email notification will be sent whenever a new post appears on this site. I wrote about this painting on a guest post at Three Pipe Problem a few years ago, and I regularly use this self-portrait when I discuss Renaissance art with my students. 5 Bohn, 254. Lavinia Fontana, Autoportrait (1588) Une autre artiste (re)connue s’adonne aux autoportraits délégués : Lavinia Fontana. Later, it is believed that Fontana referenced herself in two more paintings: as Judith in Judith with the Head of Holofernes in 1600 and in a Madonna and Child with Five Saints from 1601, where she is portrayed as St. Barbara. On 17 October 1578, Dominican scholar Alfonso Ciacón wrote to Fontana and requested her portrait; Ciacón intended to publish an engraved gallery of 500 portraits of respected scholars, artists, and statesmen.6 No doubt Fontana felt honored to have her portrait be included in this engraved “gallery.” Fontana sent this portrait to Ciacón in 1579, but the book of engravings was never published. She can’t be helping Lavinia, because in that case the music would stand before the eyes of the player, so what then? Sofonisba Anguissola, Lavinia Fontana, Artemisia Gentileschi mais aussi Virginia Vezzi, Orsola Maddalena Caccia, Giovanna Garzoni… Nombreuses sont donc les femmes peintres à s’être frayé un chemin au cœur de l’effervescence artistique et culturelle de la Renaissance ! We do not wish to appropriate his content; merely to see his 4 King, p. 67. In the meantime, I would like to make this post I wrote available again, in Hasan’s memory. Ciacon was a Spanish Dominican theologian and scholar who lived in Rome. The following post first appeared on Three Pipe Problem in March 2011. The self-portrait by Fontana that interests me the most was painted just two years after Fontana’s wedding portrait. 2014 - Découvrez le tableau "Lavinia Fontana" de Mori Mori sur Pinterest. Washington: DC: New Academia, 2009). 6 Name also appears in art history texts as Alonso Chaçon and Alfonso Chacon. 401. While emphasizing good social status was important for all painters during the Renaissance, it was especially important for females whose self portraits were often the first image seen by their future husbands. After marrying Paolo Zappi, she gave birth to 11 children and moved to Rome in 1603. Protégée des papes Jules III, puis Grégoire XIII, la famille Fontana possède l’un des ateliers les plus en vue de Bologne. Lavinia Fontana was born in Bologna, the daughter of the painter Prospero Fontana, who was a prominent painter of the School of Bologna at the time and served as her teacher.