7 Women Artists Who Deserve More Acclaim ...

Like many female artists, Artemisia Gentileschi was the daughter of a painter, which allowed her the opportunity to train as an artist. Her works often feature dramatic scenes of biblical women; one of her best-known works is Judith Slaying Holofernes. Not only was she the daughter of a painter, but she in turn taught her own daughter to paint.

Like Artemisia Gentileschi, Angelica Kauffman was given her artistic training by her painter father. Many of her works were based on classical themes, but she also painted portraits of some important people of the time. One of her subjects was the infamous Lady Hamilton, the mistress of British military hero Lord Nelson. Angelica was a member of the Royal Academy in London.

Levina Teerlinc was a painter of miniatures, tiny paintings that were often used when negotiating aristocratic and royal marriages. Royal suitors would have a miniature painted of potential brides, so that they could examine the candidates before negotiating a marriage. Levina painted Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I of England.

Painting wasn't the only medium that women artists used. Luisa Roldán, also known as La Roldana, was a sculptor. Like many other women artists, she was also taught by her father. She is the first recorded women sculptor in Spain, and many of her works are still in churches.

Many women artists are, unjustly, more famous for their association with male artists than for their own work. Suzanne Valadon is known today for being the mother of painter Maurice Utrillo, yet was an accomplished and successful painter in her own right. She was the first woman to be admitted to the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts and although not formally trained, picked up skills from working as a model.

Olga Boznańska was a Polish impressionist painter, who did many portraits and still lives. Like Suzanne Valadon, she was a member of Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts. Her best-known painting is Girl with Chrysanthemums, but I am particularly taken with her Portrait of a Woman.

Elisabetta Sirani died at a tragically young age, but still managed to produce a considerable body of work, including paintings, drawings and etchings. She also opened an academy for women artists, where her younger sisters were among her students. Elisabetta painted many altarpieces and religious themes, but also produced allegories and portraits.

There are so many women artists that deserve to be better known, so why not head to an art gallery and search for works by female artists? You could also look for pictures and other works of art on the internet, and find out about the lives of the artists who created them. Who is your favorite women artist, whether in the past or one who's currently working?