Giovanna Fratellini

Giovanna Fratellini
Self-Portrait (1720)
Born	1666 Florence, Italy
Died	18 April 1731
Nationality	Italian
Known for	Painting
Movement	Baroque

Giovanna Fratellini (1666 – 1731) was a Florentine artist during the Baroque period. Born in Florence as Giovanna Marrmocchini Cortesi, she married Guiliano Fratellini in 1685 and changed her name to Fratellini. This well-born woman pastellist was a lady-in-waiting to Vittoria della Rovere, the Grand Duchess of Tuscany.

She was trained in painting and music under the ducal auspices. Her works consist of oil, pastel, miniature enamel and chalk. She is primarily renowned for her portrait works but she also painted fables, bacchanals and historical subjects, such as the Death of Lucretia (untraced).

After training in the art of miniature painting with the Capuchin monk-painter Ippolito Galantini (1627-1706) and pastels with the noted Domenico Tempesti (c.1655-1737), she polished her skills with Anton Domenico Gabbiani. Fratellini was accepted into Florence’s Accademia del disegno in 1706 and elevated to full member in 1710.

Her portrait works were the means to her success and her sitters were considered the epitome of eightieth-century refinement. Her works depicted a model of both noble and virtuous eightieth-century refinement. Fratellini’s depiction of Ceilia Pazzi (1720), part of her ‘child lady’ series, honors the young girls of noble birth in adult poses and adult features and characteristics.

In addition to portraits, Fratellini is documented as a religious painter for Cosimo III. Prince Ferndinando commissioned several history and mythological pieces in pastel. Her commissioned works were invoiced and recorded as having received up to 15 scudi for each completed portrait in pastel on paper. Violante Beatrix Von Bayern, governor of Siena and wife of Tuscany’s hereditary prince Ferninando de’ Medici commissioned her to portray many of the ladies at the court. Fratellini accepted the task to commemorate the prominent circle of courtly ladies.