Latin historian Pliny the Elder said Iaia of Cyzicus was the first female painter to paint a self-portrait…
She was born in the Ancient Greek town of Cyzicus, now a part of Turkish Anatolia but moved to Rome to be an artist. Iaia, (Laia or Maia) painted and sculpted but only painted women. She was regarded as better than her male contemporaries and also, according to Pliny the Elder, painted faster and earned more.
Her date of birth is unknown, although it is known that she lived during the time of Marcus Terentius Varro* (116–27 B.C.) and possibly also died in 27 B.C.
Just as is the case with all the great artists of antiquity, like Apelles, there are no remaining works by Iaia. But I include her here because it is important to know that although art history has made it look like women artists are a product of the XXth Century, it is false. Women have been painting and sculpting since ancient times.
Under the name of Iaia Marcia she is one of three women artists mentioned in Boccaccio’s De mulieribus claris. Pliny the Elder also mentions Iaia in his Natural History along with four other women artists of antiquity: Timarete, Irene, Aristarete, and Olympias.
Apparently there was more equality in Ancient Greece and Rome than what they are telling us in the official history that «they» are trying to sell us. So let’s start re-writing history…
* Marcus Terentius Varro was regarded by Plutarch as Rome’s greatest scholar and «third light of Rome».
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CHEERS
JaZzArt en València 
Thank you, Francesco, for interesting and erudite finding of the first women painters! I will come back to your video and music when other people in my household are awake.
Joanna
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Thank you Joanna, so much! It is interesting and important to make known these women painters that have existed throughout the years even though art history has tried to ignore them. All the best!
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Nice post 🙏🎸
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Thank you so much Satyam!
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💜
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🌞😊🌞🙏
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Interesting. We were not aware of this lady.
Thanks for sharing
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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It is my pleasure Klaus, and my mission to do this. I find that there are many artists, great artists, especially women, that have been purposely left out and I am trying my best to put them back into art history. I appreciate your contribution to this cause by keeping the conversation alive. All the best!
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We think that very important. Thanks for the good work you do
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Thank you! Let us all keep the conversation alive and flowing! All the best Fab Four of Cley! 😊
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