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Elisabetta Sirani(1638-1665)ItalianEven though she only lived for 27 years, Elisabetta Sirani was a verysuccessful Baroque painter with over 200 paintings, drawings, and etchings.She was born in Bologna, Italy in 1638 to anartistic father Giovanni Sirani. Elisabetta wasan independent painter by 19 and ran herfamily’s workshop. When her father becamesick, she had to support her parents and herthree siblings entirely through her art.Elisabetta spent her short life in the cityof Bologna which is a city famous for itsprogressive outlook toward women’s rights andfor generating flourishing female artists.Elisabetta became known very quickly for herart because of how fast she was able to finishpaintings. Her admirers liked to visit herstudio frequently to watch her work. Herpaintings focused on portraits, mythologicalsubjects, and, most famously, the Holy Familyand the Virgin and Child. Her works wereattained by wealthy, noble, and royal patrons.In 1665, Elisabetta became depressedElisabetta Sirani, Self-Portrait,unknown date, black and red chalk onpaper, Private Collection, Geneva,stomach ailment. Her father suspectedthat she had been poisoned by a jealousmaid and had the maid put on trial. Anautopsy showed that Elisabetta died fromstomach ulcers so the maid was acquitted.The city of Bologna honored Elisabettawith an elaborate public funeral thatincluded formal orations, special poetryand music, and a life-sized sculpture ofher.and underweight. She forced herself to continueworking but within a few months she died of anundiagnosedElisabetta Sirani, Virgin and Child, 1663, oil oncanvas, National Museum of Women in the Arts.Artist Biographies Page 19