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Leonardo da Vinci and Creative Female Nature

• Mary D. Garrard
• Feminism and Tradition in Aesthetics
• Prepared By Justine Phelps

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Aims of the Class

• To examine Leonardo da Vincis works from a
  feminist perspective to expose gender-based
  conceptual biases
• Examine da Vincis impact on female portraiture,
  representation, and biology
• Discuss the micro-macrocosm commentary regarding
  the (female) human body

La Scapagliata
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Key Terms
Annunciation 1472-75

• Sfumato
• Contrapposto
• Anima

• Natura creatrix
• Natura naturata
• Natura naturans

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Guide Questions

• Loenardo was known for both his artistic advances
  as well as his scientific ones. In this course
  we have described modern technology as having a
  masculine role in controlling the feminine
  nature. Where is Leonardos stance in this
  attempt to control through science?
• Though Leonardo altered the position and gaze of
  the female subjects he painted, in the end they
  were still images commissioned by husbands,
  fiancés and fathers. Does this fact discredit
  his attempt to valorize the female sex?
• The article states that Leonardos representation
  of the female and feminine was distinctive in a
  period when women were neither politically nor
  socially empowered to make such a case for
  themselves. Are we now in a position to make
  such a case for ourselves artistically, and if
  so, should this still be an area for male
  expression?

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Sources

• The Annunciation, Ginevra de Benci, Virgin of
  the Rocks, Lady with Ermine, La bella Ferroniere,
  Mona Lisa http//www.artchive.com/artchive/L/leon
  ardo.html
• La Scapagliata, Study for Leda, Star of
  Bethlehem http//www.kfki.hu/arthp/html/l/leonar
  do/index.html
• Study of Female Body, Uterus and Fetus
  http//www.visi.com/reuteler/leonardo.html
• Giovanna Tornabuoni http//www.abcgallery.com/G/g
  hirlandao/ghirlandaio26.html
• Birth of Venus http//www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/au
  th/botticelli/venus/