Women's Roles throughout the Renaissance and Middle Ages

During the Middle Ages, women were still treated unfairly, and men were treated as if they own them. Men were dominant and women had no choice, but to serve them. Whenever a woman had a request or a favor, they would always have to ask their fathers, brothers, or husbands. Women artists weren't recognized as true artists, but instead people began to accuse some women artists, for example, that they took credit from their father's work. "Elisabetta Sirani, another Bolognese artist, was so accomplished a painter that she was accused of signing work her father had done" (Guerilla Girls, 30). In these lines, you can see that they were indeed treated unfairly.

Women's roles began to change throughout the Renaissance to the 19th Century. They were to be at home where they belonged. Women began to focus more on making quilts because that is what they usually did at home while waiting for their husbands to come home. They were basically the housewives and men treated them as their "slaves" in a way. "I do not permit a woman to be a teacher, nor must a woman domineer over a man; she should be quiet" (Chadwick, 45) A woman was not allowed to say whatever they had in mind, especially to men because that is how the society at that time was. 

Many women artists began painting more of a botanical type of art. Flowers, trees, insects, and other types of nature were considered understandable for women artists to paint. This is because nature was more of a "feminine" subject. Flowers were more of a home environment, rather than painting people and other subjects. Rachel Ruysch was a flower painter who became well known for her beautiful flower paintings. Her work is very detailed and shows that she has a passion for botany. 

Rachel Ruysch "Flowers in a Vase" after 1700

Many women during the Renaissance to the Middle Ages began painting about how women should play an important role. Elisabetta Sirani, was a women artist who painted "Portia Wounding Her Thigh" in 1664. Her painting showed that Portia wanted to prove herself virtuous and worthy of political trust by separating herself from the rest of her sex. It shows that Portia is seperated from the other woman in the back because she is trying to distinguish herself from the image of gossiping/chatting. Women wanted to show these roles and tell men that some women were actually worthy and that the stereotype among women should stop. 

Elisabetta Siriani "Portia Wounding Her Thigh" 1664

Women played roles as housewives which led to some artists to put art into quilts. Since they were always at home, they were the masters of lacemaking and creating beautiful quilts. "Woman Spinning is the fourth series of five engravings whose others are sewing, pleating fabric, cleaning, and cooking" (Chadwick, 127). It is said in these lines that women's roles were definitely the typical housewives. The picture below shows a quilt made by Harriet Powers. Her work is very detailed and shows images of farming and slave work. 

Harriet Powers "Pictorial Quilt" 1895-98