Throughout history, some of the world’s most renowned painters were not able to sell their artworks during their lifetimes. From Lavinia Fontana in the 16th century to Katsushika Hokusai in the 19th century, these artists have left a legacy that has outlived them and continues to inspire viewers around the world. Despite their immense talent, many of these painters’ works remained unsold during their lives due to various reasons. In this article, we will explore the lives and works of five renowned painters whose artworks never saw commercial success during their time.
Lavinia Fontana (1552–1614)
Lavinia Fontana (1552–1614) was an Italian painter who is considered one of the most important female artists of the 16th century. She was born in Bologna and trained by her father, Prospero Fontana, a prominent Mannerist painter. By the age of 15, Lavinia had already established a reputation for herself and had begun painting commissions for local patrons. Her work depicted everyday life with realism and a focus on detail which was uncommon for female painters in her time.
Despite her talent and recognition within the artistic community, none of Lavinia’s works were sold during her lifetime. This was likely due to the fact that female artists were not viewed as capable of producing masterpieces like their male counterparts and therefore did not receive the same recognition or value from art collectors. Despite this lack of financial success, Lavinia’s works have since been highly sought after by museums such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Yale University Press.
Artemisia Gentileschi (1593–1653)
Artemisia Gentileschi (1593–1653) was an Italian Baroque painter and one of the most renowned female artists of the time. She is known for her challenging and powerful paintings that depicted themes of violence, revenge, and justice. Artemisia was trained by her father Orazio Gentileschi, a prominent Mannerist painter. Despite her talent, she faced numerous difficulties throughout her career because she was a woman in a male-dominated field. As such, none of Artemisia’s works were sold during her lifetime.
In recent years however, there has been a resurgence of interest in the artworks of Gentileschi due to their power and importance within the realms of both art history and feminism. Her works have been featured in major exhibitions at institutions such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The National Gallery in London, and The Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Additionally, several books have been written about her life and works including Jules Prown’s “The Life Of Artemisia Gentileschi: A Documentary Biography” (the University of California Press), Mary Garrard’s “Artemisia Gentileschi Around 1622: The Shaping And Reshaping Of An Artistic Identity” (Edwin Mellen Press) and Elizabeth Cropper’s “The Ownership Of Paintings By Artemisia Gentileschi” (Oxford University Press).
Francisco Goya (1746–1828)
Francisco Goya (1746–1828) was a Spanish Romantic painter, printmaker, and engraver. He is considered one of the most important artists of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and his works have had a lasting influence on the development of art in Europe. Goya’s career began with painting traditional religious works for churches, but he later became well-known for his portraits of famous political figures and scenes from everyday life. His paintings often featured subjects with dark undertones that explored themes such as death and mortality.
Although Goya was extremely successful during his lifetime, none of his paintings were sold during it due to their controversial subject matter. Instead, many were purchased by private collectors or donated to public institutions such as The Museum of Modern Art in New York City or The Yale University Press. Today, Goya’s works are highly sought after by museums around the world including The Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Edams Museum in Madrid, and The Demuth Museum in Lancaster County. As such, they are often sold at auction for large sums of money.
Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669)
Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669) was a Dutch painter and etcher who is widely regarded as one of the greatest painters of all time. He was an innovator in the use of chiaroscuro, a technique of contrasting light and dark tones to make a painting more dramatic. His works often explored religious themes, and he was especially known for his portraits of prominent people from his day.
During his lifetime, Rembrandt’s paintings were not sold due to their unconventional style and subject matter. Instead, they were acquired by collectors or given as gifts to influential patrons like members of the court or powerful merchants. Sadly, many of Rembrandt’s works have been lost over time due to the artist’s bankruptcy in 1656. Today, some of his most famous works can be found in museums such as The Louvre in Paris, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849)
Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist and printmaker who is best known for his iconic woodblock print series “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji”. He was an innovator in the use of perspective, composition, and color, and created numerous works that are now regarded as masterpieces.
Hokusai’s works were not sold during his lifetime due to their unconventional style and subject matter. Instead, they were primarily acquired by prominent art collectors or given as gifts to influential patrons. In addition, many of his works were lost over time due to wars and natural disasters. Today, some of his most famous surviving pieces can be found in museums such as The British Museum in London, the Tokyo National Museum in Japan, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is clear that there are several renowned painters whose artworks remained unsold during their lifetimes. From Lavinia Fontana to Katsushika Hokusai, these artists created works of immense beauty and power that were not appreciated or valued until after their death. While it is a shame that they did not receive the recognition they deserved while alive, their works are now widely admired and collected, ensuring their legacy lives on.
