Marco Tulio's painting of Christine de Pizan debuts at Early Music Vancouver Summer Festival
Unveiled last night, the magic-realist portrait of 15th-century feminist poet was commissioned to celebrate Our City of Ladies concert
Christine de Pizan. Painting by Marco Tulio
Early Music Vancouver Summer Festival runs to August 5
A LUSH LANDSCAPE of rolling green hills, a quaintly posed feathered companion, and a facial expression of longing—these are all elements that characterize Vancouver-based artist Marco Tulio’s newly completed portrait of feminist Renaissance poet Christine de Pizan.
Commissioned by Bruce Munro-Wright and Early Music Vancouver’s artistic and executive director Suzie LeBlanc, the striking painting was created in honour of Early Music Vancouver Summer Festival’s upcoming performance Our City of Ladies on August 1. The 7:30 pm concert at the Christ Church Cathedral, featuring the artists of Servir Antico and directed by Catalina Vicens, takes its title and inspiration from an allegorical city conceived of by de Pizan—a land which is said to defend and protect women and their right to education. De Pizan also inspired the festival’s larger theme, WOMENinVIEW, focusing on female voices in music, historically and today.
The artwork was unveiled last night at the opening The Queen of Carthage performance at the SFU Woodward’s Goldcorp Centre for the Arts.
Tulio spent seven months composing and executing the portrait of de Pizan. It highlights his signature style of magic realism, which involves the creation of a fantastical environment by shrouding real-life subject matter in a subtly dream-like atmosphere.
“I enjoy representing this type of everyday scene with the freedom to stylize the form in what moves me,” shares Tulio of the painting’s style. “The use of elements such as the bird, book, rose, and city reinforce the character’s emotions and allows for varying interpretation for the viewer.”
Marco Tulio with his unfinished painting of Christine de Pizan. Photo by Nancy Wong
De Pizan, whose early-15th century writings question the place, role, and treatment of women in society, is pictured in the painting deep in thought, book in hand with a blank piece of paper by her side.
The painting has been donated to Early Music Vancouver by Munro-Wright for music and history lovers alike to view.
“I hope that the viewer is invited to ponder about the woman in the portrait, her intellect, her strength of character, and her curiosity at a time where women were not viewed in this light,” Tulio tells Stir. “Maybe the viewer will be intrigued and will be interested in investigating who Christine de Pizan was, her life, and the contributions of this great pioneer.”
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