For many people, the term ‘Renaissance art’ immediately brings to mind Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo or Raphael. But little do they know there is one category of artists of the period that go completely unnoticed — the women.

Mary Garrard, a nationally acclaimed feminist art historian, has made it her priority to give female Renaissance artists the credit they deserve. Garrard, this year’s William Fleming Visiting Professor in Art History, will deliver the 2011 Doris Lecture on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the Gifford Auditorium of Huntington Beard Crouse Hall.

Her lecture is titled ‘Art Versus Nature: A Renaissance Competition in the Key of Gender,’ and she will discuss the feminist aspects of Renaissance art, as well as the many gender paradigms through art and science history, according to a March 30 Syracuse University news release.

Gary Radke, the dean’s professor of humanities who is responsible for organizing the event, said he chose Garrard to come to SU as this year’s visiting professor because of the success of her newly released book, ‘Brunelleschi’s Egg: Nature, Art and Gender in Renaissance Italy.’ Radke said Garrard’s open-minded views were another reason she was selected to speak.

‘We wanted someone broad-based,’ Radke said. ‘If you only studied Monet’s water lilies from a narrow point of view, we wouldn’t want you. But if you were interested in the botany of the pieces and in his gardens, and if you were broad and interdisciplinary, then we did. Mary Garrard has that approach on women artists and the images of those women.’

Garrard is among those most recognized for recovering the reputation of women artists of the Renaissance period, Radke said. He said many people say there were not any female artists at the time, but Garrard discovered a great deal of extremely talented ones.

Furthermore, she has introduced a new, feminine angle for analyzing their pieces, he said. Radke said Garrard is able to look at a Renaissance painting created by a woman and study what women see in it rather than men, what the work conveys about those women, and how the piece can convey women as creative, intelligent and thoughtful people.

‘Brunelleschi’s Egg,’ which came out in 2010, has already received praise from art critics and scholars, according to the release. Radke also appreciated the book and said he is eager to hear her speak Wednesday. 

‘She interprets the tension between art and nature and what she’s exploring.’ Radke said. ‘Artists tended to be male, and nature was referred to as female. She explores this conflict, as men try to subdue powerful women and powerful ideas. She’s recovering the story.’

Some are curious as to how Garrard will present her lecture, wondering whether, as a feminist, her ideas could appear extreme. Chelsea DeBaise, a freshman communication and rhetorical studies major, said she hopes this isn’t the case.

‘As a woman, I have often felt overwhelmed by the pretension exhibited by those in the feminist field, and the art world is no exception,’ she said. ‘I’m hoping that Mary Garrard will be able to overcome my expectations and change my thoughts on feminist scholars.’ 

Garrard is currently an art history professor emerita at American University and has lectured on feminist art and Renaissance art across the country, according to the release. She received lifetime achievement awards from the Women’s Caucus for Art in 2005 and the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters in 2011, according to the release.  

The lecture is free to the public and intended for a general audience. Students of all majors, from philosophy to the natural sciences, are encouraged to attend, Radke said. 

‘It is accessible for anyone who wants to know more about the history of scientific thought evolving, but through the means of art,’ he said. ‘And that is something that is important for people of all backgrounds.’

meltagou@syr.edu

Published on April 5, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Marwa: meltagou@syr.edu | @marwaeltagouri