Teneisha Johnson

The period known as the Renaissance followed the Middle Ages and led to the modern era.

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According to my studies the word is derived from renascere, Latin for “to be born again”, and it refers to the rebirth of Greek and Roman culture.

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The roots of the renaissance can be traced as far back as the early fourteenth century when the Italian poet Francesco Petrarch developed a philosophy that placed great value on individualism and human achievement.

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This marked a change from medieval society’s complete preoccupation with God’s power.

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In terms of the visual arts, the Renaissance began in Florence in the early fifteenth century.

It was at this time that sculptors and architects began to seek ancient models to work from.

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At the same time, painters invented one-point perspective, a system to represent depth and volume on a two-dimensional surface.

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Renowned Florentine artists of the Early Renaissance include the sculptor Donatello, whose David was the first free standing nude since antiquity; Brunelleschi, the architect who designed the famous Dome of the Cathedral in Florence; and Masaccio, who was the first painter known to use one-point perspective.

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The High Renaissance, which is usually dated 1495-1527, produced some of the greatest masters of European civilization, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Titan.

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Then there was the Late Renaissance which generally refers to the period between 1527 and 1600.

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Creative works produced in this period are often referred to as “Mannerist”, since they usually are highly complex in form and rich in esoteric intellectual vanities.

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As we know, no country has achieved full gender equality.

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However, in North America and much of Europe, women have made such progress that girls have reason to believe that anything is possible.

During the Renaissance both Italian and Northern European women made tremendous strides as professional artists.

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Their work consisted of religious and mythological subjects and explored the newly established genre of still life.

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In addition to women painters, for the first time in many centuries there were also significant sculptors, who participated in major public building projects.

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As education became more accessible, women artists achieved greater levels of skill and sophistication in their work, gaining international reputations and traveling to serve the rulers of many countries.

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According to experts, throughout the centuries women have supported themselves, their parents, siblings, spouses and children as official court artists serving monarchs and popes alike.

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Many times, collaborating and executing private and large-scale public commissions, receiving significant critical attention, founding and joining many of the principal European art academics, as well as teaching their own students all at the same time.

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Talk about girl power. Wow!

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But did you know that even the most privileged women in the sixteenth century Italy were routinely denied access to the basic training necessary for professional artists?

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The Renaissance had altered the role played by artists in society and what was once considered mere craftsmen, painters and sculptors were now perceived as cultured, creative individuals who mingled with political, religious and intellectual leaders.

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Unfortunately, at the time, women could not travel freely to study art in other parts of the world; they were also not taught mathematics or science.

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They probably wouldn’t have been allowed to vote either if such a system had existed.

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I’m happy to report however, that ever since the twenty-four Caymanian women from George Town, Grand Cayman lead the charge for equal rights for women by writing to Commissioner Ivor Otterbein Smith on Election Day 1948, declaring,

 

“That it is our intention to exercise our constitutional right to vote today, August 19th 1948 according to our conscience”.