04.11.2024
Lavinia Fontana
LAVINIA pays homage to Lavinia Fontana, one of the first women artists recognized by art historians.
LAVINIA, an imperfect acronym for “LA loggia dei VINI Arte,” is a tribute to Lavinia Fontana (Bologna 1552 - Rome 1614), one of the earliest recognized painters in art history. Among her works, Minerva in atto di abbigliarsi painted in Rome in 1613, was purchased by (or gifted to) Scipione Borghese in the same year and recently restored. Il sonno di Gesù of 1591, which entered the Borghese collection in 1693, and a Ritratto di giovane (1606), are still in the Galleria Borghese.
According to legend, Lavinia was also the name of an Italic princess who lived in the 12th century BC, the daughter of King Latino and Queen Amata. She married Aeneas, the mythical Trojan king who came to the shores of Latium. From their descendants was born Romulus, founder of Rome.