CXLII. It occurs to me here, that it is necessary to say something
of the aptitude of women for those arts, which are more elevated
than those they commonly exercise themselves in; such as painting,
and sculpture. Very few women have dedicated themselves to these
applications, but of those few, some have turned out excellent artists.
We have already said of the admirable Maria Surman, that she was
eminent in painting, sculpture, and engraving.
CXLIII. In Italy, the three sisters, _Sophonisba_, _Lucia_, and _Europa
Angosciola_, were celebrated painters; the first of which, Isabella,
queen of Spain, the wife of Philip the Second, took into her service,
and she was in such high repute, that pope Pius IV. solicited a
portrait of that queen, done by the hand of Sophonisba.
CXLIV. _Irene de Spilimberg_ was so excellent in the same art, that
her paintings were often taken for those of Titian, who was her
contemporary. Fate snatched her away at the age of twenty-six, which
event caused universal grief, and drew tears from the eyes of her
competitor.
CXLV. _Teresa de Po_ was held in great estimation at Naples as a
painter; and precious traits of her pencil, may be seen in the cabinet
of the most excellent marquis of Villena, who employed her when she was
vice-queen of Naples.
CXLVI. And even in statuary, Italy has produced famous women.
_Propercia de Rossi_ was generally applauded for her beautiful designs,
and well-wrought statues in marble; but the distinguished _Labinia
Fontana_, acquired greater applause than her, or indeed than any one
else. I have had information of but one female painter in France,
though she was of the first rate. This was _Isabela Sophia de Cheron_,
known by the name of _Madame le Hai_; who, over and above possessing
talents beyond the degree of mediocrity, for music and poetry, was a
most finished painter; and became so celebrated for her skill in this
art, that the dauphin, who was son to Louis XIV. employed her to paint
him and all his children: and Casimir, king of Poland, who, after his
voluntary abdication of that crown, resided in Paris, caused her to
do the same for him, and many people of the first rank and quality
in France followed their example; and even deigned to go and sit at
the house of Isabela, which the prince of Condé did several times.
The emperor Joseph, endeavoured to draw her to Vienna, by the offer
of a large pension; but not being able to prevail on her, he sent
her the drawings of his own likeness, and those of all the imperial
family, that from them she might paint their portraits. Her designs and
colouring, were exquisite, and her facility of execution, wonderful,
for she would continue to bear a part in whatever conversation
occurred, without giving the least relaxation to the operations of the
pencil; but her christian and generous actions, added to the piety of
her spirit, made her more esteemed, than the traits of her hand; and
she died as she lived, in the year 1711.
CXLVII. But where the equal degree of aptitude in the women for the
noble arts, compared to that of the men, is most conspicuous, is in the
instance of music, which is a faculty suited indifferently to either
sex; as the females who apply themselves to it, in proportion to the
time they study, generally make as great progress as the men do; nor
does a master of this art, find more difficulty in teaching girls than
boys. I knew one girl of this profession, who, before she arrived at
the age of fifteen, was a composer. I have purposely, in the mention of
so many illustrious women, avoided touching on the exquisite endowments
of our most enlightened queen, Donna Isabel of Farnese, because it
would have been presumption in so gross a pen as mine, to undertake
the discussion of so sublime a subject; and because another, much
better cut, and superiorly qualified for the task, has, between the
escutcheons of her royal house, drawn some traces of the excellencies
and splendor of her person.