Commencement of the History of modern Art.--Causes of the Barrenness of this Century in female Artists.--The Decline of Chivalry unfavorable to their mental Development.--Passing away of the Ideal and Supernatural Element in Art.--New Feeling for Nature.--New Life and Action in Painting.--Portrayal of Feelings of the Heart.--Release of Painting from her Trammels.--Severer Studies necessary for Artists.--Woman excluded from the Pursuit.--Patronage sought.--One female Artist representing each prominent School.--Margaretta von Eyck.--Her Miniatures.--Extensive Fame.--Her Decoration of Manuscripts.--Work in Aid of her Brothers.--“The gifted Minerva.”--Single Blessedness.--Another Margaretta.--Copies and illuminates MSS. in the Carthusian Convent.--Eight folio Volumes filled.--Caterina Vigri.--Her Miniature Paintings.--Founds a Convent.--“The Saint of Bologna.”--Miraculous Painting.--The warrior Maiden Onorata.--Decorates the Palace at Cremona.--Insult offered her.--She kills the Insulter.--Flight in male Attire.--Soldier Life.--Delivers Castelleone.--The mortal Wound. 32 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. 38 CHAPTER IV. THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY.