Formidable

This being the fourth in a series I believe it's time to consider what it takes to be a "Bad-ass Woman Artist of the Middle Ages and Renaissance". Taken from the blog header a badass is defined as tough, intimidating or uncompromising. Another definition: of formidable strength or skill.

Said a different way, these artists were ready to challenge the norms of their time, and risk taking chances. I can imagine that for these artists being told no was only grounds for a good fight. Kora, Iaia and Thamar left woman's duties behind and went to work along side their fathers. Diemond had herself enclosed in a small cell in the monastery so that she could devote her life to her work.  Ende had the nerve to sign her work - a practice that was unheard of for women or men. Hildegard had to summon the courage to write about and illustrate her visions then take on the Pope to get her work recognized.

We add a few more badass's to the list today with Herrad of Landsberg, Claricia of Augsburg and Gisela of Kerzenbroeck. All three convent/monastary trained; all three from areas near the Rhine River Valley.

Herrad of Landsberg was a writer/illuminator from Hohenburg Abbey in the Vosges  mountains. Hohenburg Abbey was known during the 12th century for it's strict discipline but highly educated nuns. Herrad became the Abbess of Hohenburge Abbey in 1167 and around that same time began her great work, The Hortus Deliciarum (The Garden of Delights).

The Hortus  is a compendium of the knowledge of  the day. Herrad drew from Arab and classical writings then added her own poems, music, and illustrations. During the time few people outside Hohenburg Abbey knew of the Hortus and it is thought that it was written to be used by the novices at the Abbey to learn science and theology.

Hortus Deliciarum: Philosophy and the Seven Liberal Arts.

There are over 300 illustrations in the Hortus. One of the most striking illuminations is set up as in a rose window pattern containing female figures representing the seven Liberal Arts. Central to the pattern is  the allegorical figure of Lady Philosophy, beneath whom are two of her most famous practitioners (Socrates and Plato).

Similar to Hilgegard von Bingen, some scholars believe that Herrad may have simply overseen the work on the Hortus, while others believe that she created many of the illustrations herself. Since it was the job of the Abbess to ensure that the novices were trained in the scribal arts, I believe it is reasonable to think that Herrad and many others contributed to the book. Regardless, this is s beautiful work of art that was brought about by the work of a badass artist.

South German psalter showing Claricia 
swinging from the Q~ 12th C.

Claricia of Augsburg literally left her mark on the scribal world. Little is known about Claricia other than she had the audacity to not only sign her name to her work, but inserted a somewhat mischievous self portrait. Her self-portrait appears in a South German psalter of c. 1200. Here, she depicts herself as swinging from the tail of a letter Q. Because of the way she is dressed - in a close fitting dress and uncovered head  -- many believe that she was a lay person  that found work at the monastery.

Self-portrait from the Codex Gisela

Gisela of Kerzenbroeck was a nun in the northern German city of Rulle. Most of Gisela's life was spent illustrating manuscripts. She is best known for the illuminations in the Codex Gisela. An inscription written by one of her contemporaries identifies her as the artist.  Inside the Codex, the pages for Christmas and Easter contain images of kneeling nuns, one of which has been identified as Gisela’s self-portrait.