Portraits of Women in Art

Oil on Panel. Isabella of Portugal was the duchess of Burgundy. The portrait depicts her poise and confidence of her noble status. Her powerful status can also be alluded to by her attire. Isabella is adorned with a sumptuous attire, heavily woven with gold thread and jeweled fingers and headdress.

Katharina von Mecklenburg was the Duchess of Saxony in the late 15th century. She was a wealthy noble as portrayed by her clothing and accessories. This portrait of the Duchess represents the first portrait of a full-length figure in European painting. 

Oil on Canvas. This portraiture is of Lady Mary Hill Killigrew, wife of Sir William Killigrew . A very fertile couple, they birthed 7 children. The prosperous fertility in Sir Killigrew's marriage is referenced by the roses beneath Lady Killigrew's hand. The roses are connected to the goddess of Love, Venus, also known as Aphrodite to the Greeks. Venus (Aphrodite) was the goddess of love, beauty , prosperity and most importantly fertility. A common theme in portraits, Lady Killigrew shows off her immense luck in fertility in a subtle way. This portrait was painted by Sir Anthony Van Dyck, a Flemish Baroque artist who became a leading court painter in England. One can conclude the portrait was painted by Van Dyck due to the bare rock(s) setting behind Lady Killigrew. The bare rocks device was debuted by Van Dyck to English portrait paintings. The bare rocks symbolize constancy.

Pisana Mocenigo was the wife of Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo, the doge, a senior-most elected official of Venice and Genoa. Therefore, Pisana Mocenigo led a life of wealth and authoritative power due to her strong family connection to the government. 

Tsarevna Natalya Alexeyevna of Russia was the elder daughter of Tsar Alexis. From early on, Alekseevna shared a close bond with Peter the Great. Her strong alliance with her brother helped her become a very powerful woman.

Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the living relative of the House of Habsburg. By marriage she became the Duchess of Lorraine, Grand Duchess of Tuscany and the Holy Roman Empress. Her reign lasted 40 years after the death of her father, Emperor Charles VI. Maria Theresa married Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor and had 16 children. Her most famous and controversial child was Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, wife of Louis XVI. Maria Theresa was known for her financial and educational reforms, and strengthen Austria as a country.

Gainsborough painted a picture of Anne Thistlewaite, the Countess of Chesterfield. Her aristocratic status is shown by her fashion attire. She is dressed in a elaborate blue satin gown with a pale beige shawl trimmed with gold fringe. Gainsborough uses small dabs of white and gold paint, and longer strokes of blue and white paint to create an illusion of shimmering.

Marie Antoinette a la Rose was painted twice. The painting shown is the 2nd version. Marie Antoinette's protegee and official painter, Vigee-Lebrun, was received into the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture. Following her acceptance, Vigee-Lebrun exhibited at the Salon with a portrait of Marie Antoinette in a "gaulle" or "blouse dress." Vigee-Lebrun's painting was received with much shock and dismay due to the Queen's apparel. The public deemed the Queen, not dressed to her status. Vigee-Lebrun painted another portrait of the Queen before the closing of the exhibition. The 2nd time, the Queen was dressed in a classic blue-grey silk dress. Her clothing also relayed her support for the silk-weavers in Lyon, France. Therefore this painting is not only a portraiture but a political support on the artisan class of France. This portrait became a success with the public.

Marie-Antoinette de Lorraine-Habsbourg, reine de France, et ses enfants Oil on Canvas. The infamous Queen Marie Antoinette, wife of Louis XVI, did not have a strong reputation with both the general public and the other nobles. Most notably, her Diamond Necklace Affair tarnished any hope for the revival of her reputation. In 1785, the Queen commissioned her official portraitist, Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun, to paint an image of Marie Antoinette as both a mother and queen. Due to her scandals, the portrait was an attempt to win back her subjects. In the portrait, Queen Marie Antoinette is pictured with her 3 children and an empty cradle. Although at first the cradle was to be filled with the birth of Sophie-Beatrice, Marie's 4th daughter, the cradle remained empty due to Sophie-Beatrice's untimely death at the age of 11 months. Instead of repainting the portrait, Vigee-Lebrun left the cradle empty to aid the Queen in winning sympathy from her subjects due to the royal family's grave loss.

Marquesa de Santiago commands was a wealthy lady who commanded a strong presence. Her pose confronts the viewer directly. De Goya adds make up to her face to accentuate her facial features, which show her immense beauty. A lady like no other, an English visitor quotes Santiago as "...very loose in her manners and conversations."

Madame Duvaucey was the mistress of Baron Alquier, an Ambassador of France. She was painted by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres while he was in Rome.

Eagle of Delight, Hayne Hudjihini, was one of the five wives of Chief Shaumonekusse of the Otoe Tribe, present day Nebraska. She is known for accompanying her husband with a group of Indian delegation of Chiefs to Washington D.C. Eagle of Delight wears a blue dot on her forehead, a symbol of royalty. 

This portrait is of Therese-Stephanie-Sophie Feuillant, a wealthy aristocrat of the 18th century. Feuillant married Rene de Cassagnes de Beaufort, Marquis de Miramon in 1860. Her wealth and aristocratic status is shown by her style and surroundings. The Marquise de Miramon wears a rose colored, ruffled peignoir, or dressing gown. Around her neck are a black lace scarf and a silver cross. The needlework, behind her, on the Louis XVI stool expresses her as a noble woman o leisure. 

An Impressionist painter in the 18th century, Mary Cassatt used her art to address the many roles of the modern woman. She conceals her sketching surface from view, playfully reversing the expectations. She suggests that the art is the one who is appraising the viewer.

Oil on Canvas. Mary Cassatt was an American Impressionist who lived and worked in Europe, settling in Paris. Cassatt was rejected by the Paris Salon in 1877. Edgar Degas (the painter of Cassatt's portrait) invited Cassatt to exhibit with the Impressionists in 1879. Cassatt shared the Impressionist Movement's depiction of modern life and capturing fleeting moments. Cassatt became a life long friend to Edgar Degas, and posed as a model for him many times. Ironically, Cassatt dismissed this portrait stating, "It has artistic qualities but is so painful and represents me as a person so repugnant that I would not wish it to be known that I posed for it."

This portrait of an unidentified Maori woman. This photograph was taken by Arthur James Iles. IIles depicts the Maori as beauties and nobe warriors in his photographs. Iles married Rebecca Elsie Utuatonga, a Maori woman, who assisted his journey in giving the indigenous people a name.

Again photographed by Arthur James Iles, this is a picture of Tuterei Karewa of the Ngatimaru tribe. She is decorated with a full face moko (Maori tattoo). The Moko is often referenced to acknowledge the status and rank of a person.

Although there is no information on the model, Margaret MacKittrick, Abbott Handerson Thayer was a well known American artist, noted as a painter of portraits . Thayer was eccentric and opinionated, his portrait paintings are known to be “idealistic”, painting women as embodiments of virtue and resembling angels. Margaret MacKittrick is a surprising artwork due to the lack of “idealistic” characteristics she possesses. MacKittrick is depicted with unruly hair and a distinct nose, contradicting angelic/ideal features of perfect hair and an idealistic facial feature. Her clothing and backdrop suggests a theme far from angelic adornment. Although the painting of Margaret MacKittrick is not an idealistic portrait, her story remains a mystery, another beautiful artwork of a woman permanent in art.

Frida Kahlo is a Mexican painter known for her self portraits. Kahlo was not recognized until decades after her death, often remembered as Diego Rivera's wife. A self taught painter, she is apart of the surrealism movement. Kahlo was a passionate woman, who transformed her passion into art, making a name for herself.

Georgia O'Keeffe is an American artist, recognized as the Mother of American Modernism. Although most of her artworks include various topics, she has had self portraits taken by other artists such as this one. This photograph is by Alfred Stieglitz, O'Keeffe's husband. It is considered one of his best works.

Photograph. An older photograph of Frida Kahlo.

Another photograph of Frida Kahlo, in her later years.

Another photograph of Kahlo by Nickolas Muray, a longtime lover of Kahlo.

"I feel I'm anonymous in my work. When I look at the pictures, I never see myself; they aren't self-portraits. Sometimes I disappear."

This Film Still is apart of Cindy Sherman's Untitled Film Stills series of 1977-1980. Sherman used many disguises, many from her own closet, to create various identities and transform herself . Her artworks question the role of a woman deemed by society.

The artist Yoo Hyun Mi , expresses an innovative technique with her portrait photograph of Jiyoung. Yoo combined a painting, a photograph and media all into one work. Yoo quotes, "I want to produce photographs like paintings and paintings like photographs along with adding sculpture to the." She uses this innovative technique to "bring forth photographs blurring the boundries between dreams and reality." Yoo's artwork blurs the border between illusion and reality and captures the attention of her vast audience.

Martha Washington was the wife of President George Washington, the founding father of the United States of America. Mrs. Washington was known to be very fashionable, independent, sociable and also a gracious hostess. Throughout the years of the Revolution,Martha was seen next to her husband.

Oil on Canvas. The portrait of Dolley Madison was painted by the reknown Gilbert Stuart. From 1803 to 1805, Stuart was in heavy demand from the wealthy in the nation's capitol. At the time, Stuart painted portraits of James Madison, then the secretary of state to Thomas Jefferson. The portraits of Dolley Madison and James Madison are companion portraits. When the two portraits are together, side by side, the balance of the figures are noticeable, such as Mrs. Madison's pose. Dolley Madison is painted with her torso turned 3 quarters to her right, and her face /gaze turned to the viewer. The portrait of Dolley Madison show transitions of tone, with touches of highlights and shadows. She is also dressed in the popular French fashion with neoclassical style hair in a chignon or bun at the back of her head with loose ringlets framing her face.

Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams was the wife of John Quincy Adams, the 6th President of the United States. Louisa was born in London, England, making her first and only First Lady born outside the United States. Louisa was very sick during her life and therefore had a very reclusive life within the White House. 

Angelica Singleton Van Buren was the daughter-in-law of President Martin Van Buren, the 8th President of the United States. Angelica filled in the role of First Lady due to President Van Buren's unwed marital status. President Van Buren had been married to Hannah Van Buren who died 17 years prior to his presidency. Angelica brought sophistication to her role as First Lady, and was also known to be a hands on hostess at the White House. 

Grace Anna Coolidge was the wife of Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States. As the First Lady, she was known for her exceptional hostess skills, and her natural outgoing style. She contributed greatly to the rise of Calvin Coolidge's political career. 

Lou Henry Hooverwas the wife of HerbertHoover, the 31st President of the United States.As the First Lady, Mrs. Hooverwas a distinguished speaker on various radio broadcasts as a guest speaker. She was also a proficient speaker of the Chinese language, being the first First Lady to speak an asian language. Her linguistic abilitiesallowed her to become a cultivated scholarand linguist.

Eleanor Roosevelt was the wife of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States. She is known to be the longest serving First Lady due to her husband's four term service as President. Eleanor Roosevelt was a very different First Lady, known for her outspokenness and her stands on racial issues. She is the first First Lady to hold press conferences, write a syndicated newspaper column and speak at a national convention. At times, publicly, she would disagree with her husband's political opinions. Eleanor Roosevelt truly brought empowerment to the status of being a First Lady.

Mamie Geneva Doud Eisenhower was the wife of President Dwight D. "Ike" Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States. As a First Lady, Mamie Geneva entertained various foreign dignitaries with her overflowing confidence and costumes. Mamie Geneva was well known for her gracious hostess style but was also a very private person. She was also known to be a penny pincher and clipped coupons for the White House staff. 

Jacqueline Kennedy was the wife of President John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States.Jackie Kennedy is the epitome of social success amongst the variouswives of past and present presidential wives. Jacqueline Kennedy was fluent in Spanish and Frenchand also spoke Italian and Polish. As a First Lady, she had amazing style and taste in both her fashionchoices and her social events at the White House. 

Claudia Johnson was the wife of Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th President of the United States. She was known as Lady Bird Johnson due to her nannies' comment of her beauty, "being purty as a ladybird". Lady Bird Johnson was well educated, and alongside her husband executed political directness. She is most famously known for her beautification project for highways and cities. This project was known as the Highway Beautification Act or Lady Bird's Bill. As the First Lady she modernized the office for the First Lady, having her own press secretary and chief of staff.

Thelma Catherine "Pat" Ryan Nixon was the wife of Richard Nixon, the 37th President of the United States. As the First Lady, Mrs. Nixon promoted many charitable. She also oversaw the incoming of more than 600 pieces of historic art and furnishing for the White House. She was well liked by the public due to her many travel endeavors accompanying her husband to diplomatic visits. 

Barbara Bush is the wife of George H. W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States. From before her role as a First Lady, Mrs. Bush immersed herself in various charities and projects. She served as the Second Lady of the United States prior to her role as the First Lady. As the Second Lady, Mrs. Bush took interests in literacy issues due to her son Neil being diagnosed with dyslexia. 

Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the wife of President Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States. Mrs. Clinton is known for being a political machine as well. She served as the 67th United States Secretary of State from 2009-2013 serving under current 44th President Barack Obama. She also served as a Senator for the state of New York from 2001-2009. Most famously she is known for running for the 2008 President Election as the leading candidate for the Democratic Party. As the first First Lady to hold a postgraduate degree, she became an even more empowered woman.