Mistress of a Guild - What?!?!?!

In western Europe artists were often part of the guild structure. The Guild of St. Luke was one of the more successful, having guild houses in many western European cities. The Guild of St. Luke was especially strong in the Netherlands. First mentioned in city records in the late 14th century, the guild in Antwerp may have been the guilds founding city. Bruges, Haarlem, and other norther European cites had active Guilds of St Luke as well. It is interesting to note that the guild system was not particularly strong in Italy. The artistic community in Italy seems to have moved from a simple master/apprentice arrangement to an academy system.

Portrait of a Young Lady, oil on panel

The Guild of St. Luke had very strict guidelines for moving through the guild from apprentice to master. An apprentice (and their family) would agree to undergo training that would last from four to six years. During that time the apprentice would learn all the skills necessary to be a successful artist, not just painting. They would study the preparation of pigments, stretching canvas, preparing the canvas for painting, etc. Eventually they would be allowed to work on one of the masters paintings, perhaps filling in a landscape, or working on a supporting character. After a period of time the apprentice would be given the opportunity to create a masterpiece. If successful they would be allowed to become a journeyman in the guild; if not they had to wait 58 weeks before they could try again. Journeymen could work for any master in the guild and this period usually lasted a year or two. During this time they would refine their skill, and might even begin signing some of their work. Finally the journeyman would make some sort of payment to the guild and would be recognized as a free Master, able to sell their own paintings and take on their own students.

In the Netherlands and northern France women experienced a bit more freedom than in other parts of Europe and we find many in an artistic trade. By the late 15th century as many as 25% of the members of the Guild of Saint Luke in Bruges were women. Several successful artists come from this time and area, the first of which was Caterina van Hemessen.

Caterina van Hemessen (1528 - 1567)  was born in Antwerp. She was a daughter of a well-known Mannerist painter, Jan Sanders van Hemessen. She learned to paint from her father and was known to have collaborated with him. Queen Mary of Hungary, Regent of the Low Countries, was her main patron and supporter.

Self Portrait, oil on panel, 12.6 in. x 9.84 in.

Caterina was regarded as a successful painter in her time. She was a portraitist; painting with oil on panel, most of her works were fairly small. Her subjects were wealthy patrons, usually painted against a plain dark background.

It is not clear when Caterina became a Master in the Guild of St. Luke. What is known is that she was the first woman to achieve that status and that she took at least three students.

Another first for Caterina was her most well known painting, Self Portrait. Many scholars believe that this is the first self-portrait of an artist, of either gender, depicted seated at an easel. This painting shows Caterina sitting at an easel, painting. It looks as though the viewer has entered the room just in time to see Caterina make that first stroke. Mahl stick in place, palette and brushes at the ready, we feel as though we've interrupted her. But, she's not upset, just patiently waiting our next question.
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Selected Sources

Bois, Danuta, Distinguished Women of Past and Present; Caterina van Hemessen. http://www.distinguishedwomen.com/biographies/vanhemessen-c.html

Kleiner, Fred S. Gardner's Art through the Ages: The Western Perspective

Scotterjoseph, Irene. The Athenaeum - Caterina Van Hemessen.  https://www.the-athenaeum.org/people/detail.php?ID=6188

Janson, Jonathan. Essential Vermeer 3.0 - The Guild of Saint Luke of Delft  http://www.essentialvermeer.com/saint_luke's_guild_delft.html#.XY4o60ZKiUk