CHAPTER V.

THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.

New Ground presented for Progress.--Greater Diversity of Style.--Naturalism.--The Caracci instrumental in giving to Painting the Impetus of Reform.--Their Academy.--One opened by a Milanese Lady.--The learned Poetess and her hundredth Birthday.--Female Painters and Engravers.--Lavinia Fontana.--The hasty Judgment.--Lavinia a Pupil of Caracci.--Character of her Pictures.--Honors paid to her.--Courted by Royalty.--Her Beauty and Suitors.--A romantic Lover.--Lavinia’s Paintings.--Close of the Period of the Christian Ideal in Art.--Lavinia’s _Chef-d’Œuvre_.--Her Children.--Professional Honors.--Her Death.--Female Disciples of the Caracci School.--Pupils of Domenichino, Lanfranco, and Guido Reni.--The churlish Guercino a Despiser of Women.--The Cardinal’s Niece and Heiress.--Her great Paintings.--Founds a Cloister.--Artemisia Gentileschi, a Pupil of Guido.--Her Portraits.--Visit to England.--Favor with Charles I.--Luxurious Abode in Naples.--Her Correspondence.--Judgment of her Pictures.--Elisabetta Sirani.--Her artistic Character.--Her household Life.--Industry and Modesty.--Her Virtues and Graces.--Envious Artists.--Defeat of Calumny.--Her mysterious Fate.--Conjectures respecting it.--Funeral Obsequies.--Her principal Works.--Her Influence on female Artists.--Her Pupils.--Other Women Artists of Bologna. 59