The Marquis Gabrino was at first furious at her escape, and commanded a hot pursuit by his soldiers; but soon afterward relenting, he proclaimed her full pardon, and summoned her to return and complete her labors, which no one else could finish. Onorata, however, had, in the mean while, learned the warrior’s business in Oldrado Lampugnano’s band of Condottieri, and her spirit and courage soon elevated her to a post of command. She loved the soldier’s life, and continued in it, painting the while, for thirty years. When her native town, Castelleone, was besieged by the Venetians, she hastened with her company to its relief. Victory crowned her in the contest, but she fell mortally wounded. She died in 1472, perhaps the only example the world’s history affords of a woman who wielded at the same time the pencil and the sword. CHAPTER III. THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. This Century rich in great Painters.--Not poor in female Artists.--Memorable Period both in Poetry and Painting.--Fruits of the Labor of preceding Century now discernible.--Female Disciples in all the Schools of Italian Art.--Superiority of the Bolognese School.--Properzia Rossi.--Her Beauty and finished Education.--Carving on Peach-stones.--Her Sculptures.--The famous Bas-relief of Potiphar’s Wife.--Properzia’s unhappy Love.--Slander and Persecution.--Her Works and Fame.--Visit of the Pope.--Properzia’s Death.--Traditional Story.--Isabella Mazzoni a Sculptor.--A female Fresco Painter.--Sister Plautilla.--Her Works for her Convent Church.--Other Works.--Women Painters of the Roman School.--Teodora Danti.--Female Engravers.--Diana Ghisi.--Irene di Spilimberg.--Her Education in Venice.--Titian’s Portrait of her.--Tasso’s Sonnet in her Praise.--Poetical Tributes on her Death.--Her Works and Merits.--Vincenza Armani.--Marietta Tintoretto.--Her Beauty and musical Accomplishments.--Excursions in Boy’s Attire with her Father.--Her Portraits.--They become “the Rage.”--Invitation from the Emperor.--From Philip of Spain.--The Father’s Refusal.--Her Marriage and Death.--Portrait of her.--Women Artists of Northern Italy.--Barbara Longhi and others.--The Nuns of Genoa. The sixteenth century, rich beyond precedent in great men, was not poor in female artists whose works are worthy of notice. Both in poetry and painting the period was memorable and glorious. The labors of the preceding age had promoted civilization and education in moral and mental acquirements, the fruits of which were discernible even in Germany, while in Italy the harvest was most abundant. The period produced Victoria Colonna, Veronica Gambara, Gaspara Stampa, and other women of literary eminence; while the works in art of Michael Angelo, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Titian, etc., became monuments for the admiration of succeeding generations. Dr. Guhl aptly remarks, “The fifteenth century was the time of work; the sixteenth the season of harvest.”