onorata

Updated: May 5, 2025

When Castelleone was besieged by the Venetians, Onorata led her band thither and was victorious in the defence of her birthplace. She was fatally wounded in this action and died soon after, in the midst of the men and women whose homes she had saved. They loved her for her bravery and deeply mourned the sacrifice of her life.

Clara Erskine Clement Waters - Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D.

Rushing from the palace, she disguised herself in male attire and fled to the mountains, where she joined a company of Condottieri. She soon became so good a soldier that she was made an officer of the band. Fondolo raged as tyrants are wont to do, both on account of the murder and of the escape. He vowed the direst vengeance on Onorata if ever she were again in his power.

Clara Erskine Clement Waters - Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D.

She has painted many portraits, both in oils and water-colors, and has been appointed a teacher in at least two Government schools in Naples. <b>RODIANA, ONORATA.</b> Was a contemporary of the saintly Caterina de Vigri, but was of quite another order of women. She had one quality which, if not always attractive, at least commands attention.

Clara Erskine Clement Waters - Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D.

Later, when his anger had cooled and he had no other artist at command who could worthily complete her decorations, he published her pardon and summoned her to return to his service. Onorata completed her work, but her new vocation held her with a potent spell, and henceforth she led a divided life never entirely relinquishing her brush, and remaining always a soldier.

Clara Erskine Clement Waters - Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D.

This, and kindred hindrances, too patent to require enumeration, account for the fact that but two Italian women of this period became so famous as to merit notice Caterina Vigri and Onorata Rodiana, whose stories are given in the biographical part of this book. In Flanders, late in the fourteenth and early in the fifteenth centuries, women were engaged in the study and practice of art.

Clara Erskine Clement Waters - Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D.