Donne D'Arte

Donne D'Arte
When I was envisioning this collection, I thought of femininity, of women, and of artists.
From this, I created six new colours. Tonally of the same strength, they are highly complementary and work beautifully when grouped together. They are calm, fresh, and serene, reminding me of the palette used in Renaissance art, but with a softer, feminine twist.
Art has always been a major source of inspiration and influence for me. The period that touches me the most is the Renaissance. It represents the beginning of everything—a time of profound change and achievement that laid the groundwork for the modern world. Originating in Italy, the movement marked the transition from the medieval era to the early modern age.
When I began searching for female Renaissance artists, I discovered they are much harder to find than their male counterparts. As skilled as they were, women could not easily express themselves professionally, nor could they learn from apprenticeships and academies in the same way men did.
This collection is dedicated to the few female artists of the Renaissance who had the opportunity and determination to create beautiful art and succeed in a male-dominated world. It is equally dedicated to those who could not, whose art will never be shared with the world. It is a celebration of, and a love letter to, the women of the Renaissance, and to all women who continue to create, transform, and contribute to our world.

Sofonisba Anguissola 1532-1625 Sofonisba’s Green
Sofonisba received a good education that included fine arts, and her unusual apprenticeships with local painters set
a precedent for women to be accepted as students of art. She met Michelangelo, who recognised her talent, and
became the tutor of Elizabeth of Valois – the Queen of Spain.

Lavinia Fontana 1552-1614 Lavinia’s Russet
A Mannerist painter, Lavinia is regarded as the first female career artist in Western Europe. Her family relied on her
financially as a painter and her husband served as her agent, breaking traditional gender roles by raising their 11
children.

Artemisia Gentileschi 1593-1656 Artemisia’s Pink
Artemisia was an incredible artist, internationally recognised for her talents, with works exhibited at esteemed fine art
institutions, such as the National Gallery in London. Raised only by her father, she lived most of her young life
surrounded by men and led a turbulent life filled with violence. She turned many of her brutal experiences into art.

Propezia de Rossi 1490-1530 Propezia’s Neutral
A groundbreaking female sculptor and only one of four women to receive a biography in Vasari’s Lives of the Artists.
She studied painting, music, dance, poetry, and classical literature, and Propezia’s life is described by many as
transgressive. She liberated herself from traditional gender constraints through the act of self-creation.

Plautilla Nelli 1524-1588 Plautilla’s Graphite
Plautilla was a nun and self-taught artist, as well as the first ever known female Renaissance painter in Florence. Nelli
had the favour of many patrons, executing both miniatures and large pieces. Along with de Rossi, she is mentioned
in Vasari’s Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors and Architects.

Fede Galizia 1578-1630 Fede’s Ochre
Fede was a painter of still-life, portraits, and religious pictures. Known for her exquisite still-life paintings of fruit, she
is one of the earliest known artists of this genre in Europe. Largely overlooked for many decades, her paintings were
rediscovered in the 20th century, finally gaining Fede the recognition she deserved.

The A4s and 75 mls sample pots for this collection come in the Eco Emulsion only. From 1 litre onward, all of our colours are available in all of our finishes. If you have any questions regarding my Colour Collections, or the paint products, please email us or call us on 020 72287694. Thank you.