La differece of being woman

Research and Teaching of History

Image Gallery

Image Gallery

External aspect of the beguine building of Witches

External aspect of the beguine building of Witches

The outside of the beguine building of Witches

The outside of the beguine building of Witches

Altarpiece of Jaume Huguet (XVth century) from the church of San Antonio of Barcelona

Altarpiece of Jaume Huguet (XVth century) from the church of San Antonio of Barcelona

San Bernardo venerating the Virgin with the Chile and Santa Ana, h. 1515

San Bernardo venerating the Virgin with the Chile and Santa Ana, h. 1515

Cover of the book by Luisa Muraro, The Simbolic Order Of The Mother

Cover of the book by Luisa Muraro, The Simbolic Order Of The Mother

Tomb of the two “saints”, Inés and Clara.

Tomb of the two “saints”, Inés and Clara.

Facsimile of an engraving with the representation of the two saints arriving by boat on the beach of Barcelona.

Facsimile of an engraving with the representation of the two saints arriving by boat on the beach of...

“Santa Clara and Santa Elisabet de Hungría”, Simone Martini, 1317.

“Santa Clara and Santa Elisabet de Hungría”, Simone Martini, 1317.

“Foundation of the Monastery”.

“Foundation of the Monastery”.

“The artists”.

“The artists”.

Image of the opening and the exhibition of the bodies of the two “saint women” to allow their devotion and contact with the parishioners.

Image of the opening and the exhibition of the bodies of the two “saint women” to allow their devoti...

Miniature of Bernat Martorell

Miniature of Bernat Martorell

Cover of the 3rd edition of the work A Proposal to the Ladies.

Cover of the 3rd edition of the work A Proposal to the Ladies.

Birth of Pandora from the Earth

Birth of Pandora from the Earth

Evolution of crinolines between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Evolution of crinolines between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Retrato de Luisa Sigea de Velasco

Retrato de Luisa Sigea de Velasco

Map of the witches of Catalonia.

Map of the witches of Catalonia.

Two midwives attend to Saint Ana. One of them is preparing the bath for María.

Two midwives attend to Saint Ana. One of them is preparing the bath for María.

Three witches of Chelmsford, England, sent to the gallows

Three witches of Chelmsford, England, sent to the gallows

Graphs

Graphs

Graphs

Graphs

The goddess represents the strong woman, whose authority is recognised.

The goddess represents the strong woman, whose authority is recognised.

Two women collaborate in order to exercise the justice they believe in.

Two women collaborate in order to exercise the justice they believe in.

Relationships between women, at leisure and at work.

Relationships between women, at leisure and at work.

The mother-daughter relationship shapes the base of the symbolic order of the mother.

The mother-daughter relationship shapes the base of the symbolic order of the mother.

Looking at yourself in the mirror can reflect one’s own desire and the recognition of oneself.

Looking at yourself in the mirror can reflect one’s own desire and the recognition of oneself.

Lady playing the harp

Lady playing the harp

A lady minstrel

A lady minstrel

Christine de Pisan writing in her study

Christine de Pisan writing in her study

The Three Virtues –Reason, Rectitude and Justice- appear to Christine de Pisan

The Three Virtues –Reason, Rectitude and Justice- appear to Christine de Pisan

Construction of the walls of the Cité des Dames

Construction of the walls of the Cité des Dames

Rectitude, Christine and illustrious ladies in front of the Cité des Dames

Rectitude, Christine and illustrious ladies in front of the Cité des Dames

Autograph of Juana de Mendoza, written in a beautiful humanist hand (s. XV)

Autograph of Juana de Mendoza, written in a beautiful humanist hand (s. XV)

Beginning of the book Admiración de las obras de Dios, by Teresa de Cartagena, dedicated to Juana de Mendoza

Beginning of the book Admiración de las obras de Dios, by Teresa de Cartagena, dedicated to Juana de...

Dhuoda, Liber manualis. Second Beginning  (Incipit liber) ─the most faithful that we have, copied in the fourteenth century and descendent of the original of the book of Dhuoda.

Dhuoda, Liber manualis. Second Beginning (Incipit liber) ─the most faithful that we have, copied in...

Cover of the journal DUODA

Cover of the journal DUODA

Cloister of the Benedictine feminine abbey of San Emmeram in Regensburg or Ratisbona (Germany). Thirteenth century

Cloister of the Benedictine feminine abbey of San Emmeram in Regensburg or Ratisbona (Germany). Thir...

Engraving representing Hrotsvitha de Gandersheim in the edition of 1707 of her works

Engraving representing Hrotsvitha de Gandersheim in the edition of 1707 of her works

Engraving of the town of Gandersheim

Engraving of the town of Gandersheim

Autograph of Queen Isabel I de Castilla (Valladolid, 19th January, 1481)

Autograph of Queen Isabel I de Castilla (Valladolid, 19th January, 1481)

Virgin of Expectation or of O. Escultura, thirteenth–fourteenth centuries

Virgin of Expectation or of O. Escultura, thirteenth–fourteenth centuries

Poster of the installation Entredós, by Elena del Rivero, a brilliant interpretation of mediation (Barcelona 2000)

Poster of the installation Entredós, by Elena del Rivero, a brilliant interpretation of mediation (B...

Poster of the installation Entredós, by Elena del Rivero, a brilliant interpretation of mediation (Barcelona 2000)

Poster of the installation Entredós, by Elena del Rivero, a brilliant interpretation of mediation (B...

Poster of the installation Entredós, by Elena del Rivero, a brilliant interpretation of mediation (Barcelona 2000)

Poster of the installation Entredós, by Elena del Rivero, a brilliant interpretation of mediation (B...

Poster of the installation Entredós, by Elena del Rivero, a brilliant interpretation of mediation (Barcelona 2000)

Poster of the installation Entredós, by Elena del Rivero, a brilliant interpretation of mediation (B...

Portrait of Isabel I of Castile, represented as Catherine of Alexandria, Queen, after the battle of Toro (1476)

Portrait of Isabel I of Castile, represented as Catherine of Alexandria, Queen, after the battle of ...

Pedro Marcuello hands over to Isabel I the copy of his Cancionero: perhaps, on her right, her main chambermaid

Pedro Marcuello hands over to Isabel I the copy of his Cancionero: perhaps, on her right, her main c...

Portrait of the infanta Juana (1479-1555), future Juana I of Castile (1504-1555), daughter and successor of Isabel la Católica

Portrait of the infanta Juana (1479-1555), future Juana I of Castile (1504-1555), daughter and succe...

Madrigal de las Altas Torres. Royal Palace

Madrigal de las Altas Torres. Royal Palace

Portrait of Isabel I of Castille by Juan de Flandes. Patrimonio Nacional.

Portrait of Isabel I of Castille by Juan de Flandes. Patrimonio Nacional.

Portrait of Isabel I of Castille. Anonymous (h. 1500)

Portrait of Isabel I of Castille. Anonymous (h. 1500)

Portrait of bust of the queen and king Isabel and Fernando

Portrait of bust of the queen and king Isabel and Fernando

Isabel and Fernando with saint Elena and saint Bárbara.

Isabel and Fernando with saint Elena and saint Bárbara.

Isabel, Fernando and Juana

Isabel, Fernando and Juana

Entrance into Granada of the Reyes Católicos

Entrance into Granada of the Reyes Católicos

Autograph signature of Juana of Castile on a royal letter

Autograph signature of Juana of Castile on a royal letter


        Breviary of Isabel of Castille

Breviary of Isabel of Castille

Stole of Saint Narcís. Central part.

Stole of Saint Narcís. Central part.

Stole of Saint Narcís. Fragment of cloth that cites Maria as the author

Stole of Saint Narcís. Fragment of cloth that cites Maria as the author

Fragment of the cloth of the stole of Saint Narcís

Fragment of the cloth of the stole of Saint Narcís

Stole of Saint Narcís. Trimming on the left side of the stole.

Stole of Saint Narcís. Trimming on the left side of the stole.

The illuminated ALFA

The illuminated ALFA

Woman on the red beast (fol. 63)

Woman on the red beast (fol. 63)

The palm tree of the just  (f. 147v.)

The palm tree of the just (f. 147v.)

The End of The World

The End of The World

En recognises her authorship

En recognises her authorship

Series of Catherine of Alexandria.

Series of Catherine of Alexandria.

Series of the life of Jesus

Series of the life of Jesus

Series of John the Baptist

Series of John the Baptist

Detail of Saint Christopher

Detail of Saint Christopher

Embroidery said to be of the “comtessa Guisla”

Embroidery said to be of the “comtessa Guisla”

Banner de Saint Otto, work of Elisava

Banner de Saint Otto, work of Elisava

Lucía de la Marca represented in a fresco from the monastery of San Pedro de Burgal (Pallars Sobirà)

Lucía de la Marca represented in a fresco from the monastery of San Pedro de Burgal (Pallars Sobirà)

Pair of peasants loading sheaves

Pair of peasants loading sheaves

Pair of peasants loading sheaves

Pair of peasants loading sheaves

Romanic sculpture of Virgin, of the Kyriotisa type

Romanic sculpture of Virgin, of the Kyriotisa type

Seal of the Countess Ermesenda

Seal of the Countess Ermesenda

Countess exercising her authority

Countess exercising her authority

Sculpture of Romanic Virgin of a markedly popular nature

Sculpture of Romanic Virgin of a markedly popular nature

Elisabet and María

Elisabet and María

Santa Catalina with open hands

Santa Catalina with open hands

Healing the sick

Healing the sick

Martha serving the table

Martha serving the table

Sewing and weaving

Sewing and weaving

Sewing and weaving

Sewing and weaving

Letter of Sancha Ximenis

Letter of Sancha Ximenis

Sancha Ximenis reading to other women

Sancha Ximenis reading to other women

Little girls’ school

Little girls’ school

Up-to-date map of the neighbourhood of Sant Pere de Barcelona

Up-to-date map of the neighbourhood of Sant Pere de Barcelona

Christine de Pisan writing in her study, ca. 1410.

Christine de Pisan writing in her study, ca. 1410.

Christine de Pisan presenting the manuscript book with her works to Queen Isabel of France, wife of Carles VI, surrounded by five ladies of her court, ca. 1410.

Christine de Pisan presenting the manuscript book with her works to Queen Isabel of France, wife of ...

Illustration from the 1513 Valencian edition of the Vita Christi by Isabel de Villena.

Illustration from the 1513 Valencian edition of the Vita Christi by Isabel de Villena.

Map of the neighborhood or grouping of Santa María or of la Mezquita, of the city of Cordoba, at the time of Leonor López de Córdoba.

Map of the neighborhood or grouping of Santa María or of la Mezquita, of the city of Cordoba, at the...

Crucified Christ (fourteenth century). Royal Convent of Santa Clara (Astudillo, Palencia).

Crucified Christ (fourteenth century). Royal Convent of Santa Clara (Astudillo, Palencia).

Map of the Royal convent church of San Pablo de Córdoba.

Map of the Royal convent church of San Pablo de Córdoba.

Tomb of Leonor López de Córdoba (1362/63-1430). Royal convent church of San Pablo de Córdoba. Photo: Meri Torras.

Tomb of Leonor López de Córdoba (1362/63-1430). Royal convent church of San Pablo de Córdoba. Photo:...

Facade of the chapel of the Trinity (also called Saint Thomas Aquinas, today of the Rosario), of the royal convent church of San Pablo de Córdoba.

Facade of the chapel of the Trinity (also called Saint Thomas Aquinas, today of the Rosario), of the...

Courtyard of the Royal Convent of Santa Clara (Astudillo, Palencia), founded by María de Padilla. Fourteenth century

Courtyard of the Royal Convent of Santa Clara (Astudillo, Palencia), founded by María de Padilla. Fo...

Tomb of Martín López de Córdoba. Chapel of the Trinity, royal convent church of San Pablo de Córdoba.

Tomb of Martín López de Córdoba. Chapel of the Trinity, royal convent church of San Pablo de Córdoba...

Coat of arms of the Hinestrosa family

Coat of arms of the Hinestrosa family

Chapel of the Trinity, today of Nuestra Señora del Rosario. Royal convent church of San Pablo de Córdoba.

Chapel of the Trinity, today of Nuestra Señora del Rosario. Royal convent church of San Pablo de Cór...

Courtyard of the Royal Convent of Santa Clara (Astudillo, Palencia), founded by María de Padilla. Fourteenth century

Courtyard of the Royal Convent of Santa Clara (Astudillo, Palencia), founded by María de Padilla. Fo...

Mudejar palace of Pedro I and María de Padilla. Astudillo (Palencia). Fourteenth century.

Mudejar palace of Pedro I and María de Padilla. Astudillo (Palencia). Fourteenth century.

Tomb of Ruy Gutiérrez de Hinestrosa and Gutierre de Hinestrosa. Royal convent church of San Pablo de Córdoba. Photo: Meri Torras

Tomb of Ruy Gutiérrez de Hinestrosa and Gutierre de Hinestrosa. Royal convent church of San Pablo de...

© 2004-2008 Duoda, Women Research Center. University of Barcelona. All rights reserved. Credits. Legal note.

Contents

I. The Beguines: Freedom in Relationship

  1. 1. External aspect of the beguine building of Witches
  2. 2. The outside of the beguine building of Witches
  3. 3. Altarpiece of Jaume Huguet (XVth century) from the church of San Antonio of Barcelona

II. The love of knowledge: Mary Astell

    III. The simbolic order of the mother in the letters of Estefania de Requesens

    1. 1. San Bernardo venerating the Virgin with the Chile and Santa Ana, h. 1515
    2. 2. Cover of the book by Luisa Muraro, The Simbolic Order Of The Mother

    IV. Women of Light and Founding Mothers

    1. 1. Tomb of the two “saints”, Inés and Clara.
    2. 2. Facsimile of an engraving with the representation of the two saints arriving by boat on the beach of Barcelona.
    3. 3. “Santa Clara and Santa Elisabet de Hungría”, Simone Martini, 1317.
    4. 4. “Foundation of the Monastery”.
    5. 5. “The artists”.
    6. 6. Image of the opening and the exhibition of the bodies of the two “saint women” to allow their devotion and contact with the parishioners.

    V. The Practice of Peace. Feminine Mediation of Conflict: Queen María in the Cataluña-Castile War

    1. 1. Miniature of Bernat Martorell

    VI. Appearance of the Body and Beauty: Feminine Adornment

    1. 1. Cover of the 3rd edition of the work A Proposal to the Ladies.
    2. 2. Birth of Pandora from the Earth
    3. 3. Evolution of crinolines between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries.
    4. 4. Retrato de Luisa Sigea de Velasco

    VII. Knowledge and Powers

    1. 1. Map of the witches of Catalonia.
    2. 2. Two midwives attend to Saint Ana. One of them is preparing the bath for María.
    3. 3. Three witches of Chelmsford, England, sent to the gallows
    4. 4. Graphs
    5. 5. Graphs
    6. 6. The goddess represents the strong woman, whose authority is recognised.

    VIII. The Transmission of Wealth Between Women

    1. 1. Two women collaborate in order to exercise the justice they believe in.
    2. 2. Relationships between women, at leisure and at work.
    3. 3. The mother-daughter relationship shapes the base of the symbolic order of the mother.
    4. 4. Looking at yourself in the mirror can reflect one’s own desire and the recognition of oneself.

    IX. The Two Infinites: The Primary Material and God

    1. 1. Lady playing the harp
    2. 2. A lady minstrel
    3. 3. Christine de Pisan writing in her study
    4. 4. The Three Virtues –Reason, Rectitude and Justice- appear to Christine de Pisan
    5. 5. Construction of the walls of the Cité des Dames
    6. 6. Rectitude, Christine and illustrious ladies in front of the Cité des Dames
    7. 7. Autograph of Juana de Mendoza, written in a beautiful humanist hand (s. XV)
    8. 8. Beginning of the book Admiración de las obras de Dios, by Teresa de Cartagena, dedicated to Juana de Mendoza

    X. Neither Private Nor Public Women: The Personal is Political

    1. 1. Dhuoda, Liber manualis. Second Beginning (Incipit liber) ─the most faithful that we have, copied in the fourteenth century and descendent of the original of the book of Dhuoda.
    2. 2. Cover of the journal DUODA
    3. 3. Cloister of the Benedictine feminine abbey of San Emmeram in Regensburg or Ratisbona (Germany). Thirteenth century
    4. 4. Engraving representing Hrotsvitha de Gandersheim in the edition of 1707 of her works
    5. 5. Engraving of the town of Gandersheim
    6. 6. Autograph of Queen Isabel I de Castilla (Valladolid, 19th January, 1481)
    7. 7. Virgin of Expectation or of O. Escultura, thirteenth–fourteenth centuries
    8. 8. Poster of the installation Entredós, by Elena del Rivero, a brilliant interpretation of mediation (Barcelona 2000)
    9. 9. Poster of the installation Entredós, by Elena del Rivero, a brilliant interpretation of mediation (Barcelona 2000)
    10. 10. Poster of the installation Entredós, by Elena del Rivero, a brilliant interpretation of mediation (Barcelona 2000)
    11. 11. Poster of the installation Entredós, by Elena del Rivero, a brilliant interpretation of mediation (Barcelona 2000)
    12. 12. Portrait of Isabel I of Castile, represented as Catherine of Alexandria, Queen, after the battle of Toro (1476)
    13. 13. Pedro Marcuello hands over to Isabel I the copy of his Cancionero: perhaps, on her right, her main chambermaid
    14. 14. Portrait of the infanta Juana (1479-1555), future Juana I of Castile (1504-1555), daughter and successor of Isabel la Católica

    XI. Writing and Reading: Politics in the Mother Tongue

    1. 1. Madrigal de las Altas Torres. Royal Palace
    2. 2. Portrait of Isabel I of Castille by Juan de Flandes. Patrimonio Nacional.
    3. 3. Portrait of Isabel I of Castille. Anonymous (h. 1500)
    4. 4. Portrait of bust of the queen and king Isabel and Fernando
    5. 5. Isabel and Fernando with saint Elena and saint Bárbara.
    6. 6. Isabel, Fernando and Juana
    7. 7. Entrance into Granada of the Reyes Católicos
    8. 8. Autograph signature of Juana of Castile on a royal letter
    9. 9. Breviary of Isabel of Castille

    XII. Scattering Light and Colours: The Traces of Some Medieval Women Artists

    1. 1. Stole of Saint Narcís. Central part.
    2. 2. Stole of Saint Narcís. Fragment of cloth that cites Maria as the author
    3. 3. Fragment of the cloth of the stole of Saint Narcís
    4. 4. Stole of Saint Narcís. Trimming on the left side of the stole.
    5. 5. The illuminated ALFA
    6. 6. Woman on the red beast (fol. 63)
    7. 7. The palm tree of the just (f. 147v.)
    8. 8. The End of The World
    9. 9. En recognises her authorship
    10. 10. Series of Catherine of Alexandria.
    11. 11. Series of the life of Jesus
    12. 12. Series of John the Baptist
    13. 13. Detail of Saint Christopher
    14. 14. Embroidery said to be of the “comtessa Guisla”
    15. 15. Banner de Saint Otto, work of Elisava

    XIII. The Ordering Hands. A Look at the Women of the Ninth to Eleventh Centuries

    1. 1. Lucía de la Marca represented in a fresco from the monastery of San Pedro de Burgal (Pallars Sobirà)
    2. 2. Pair of peasants loading sheaves
    3. 3. Pair of peasants loading sheaves
    4. 4. Romanic sculpture of Virgin, of the Kyriotisa type
    5. 5. Seal of the Countess Ermesenda
    6. 6. Countess exercising her authority
    7. 7. Sculpture of Romanic Virgin of a markedly popular nature
    8. 8. Elisabet and María
    9. 9. Santa Catalina with open hands

    XIV. Work in Relationship and Women’s Knowledge

    1. 1. Healing the sick
    2. 2. Martha serving the table
    3. 3. Sewing and weaving
    4. 4. Sewing and weaving
    5. 5. Letter of Sancha Ximenis
    6. 6. Sancha Ximenis reading to other women
    7. 7. Little girls’ school

    XV. Feminine Authorship

    1. 1. Up-to-date map of the neighbourhood of Sant Pere de Barcelona
    2. 2. Christine de Pisan writing in her study, ca. 1410.
    3. 3. Christine de Pisan presenting the manuscript book with her works to Queen Isabel of France, wife of Carles VI, surrounded by five ladies of her court, ca. 1410.
    4. 4. Illustration from the 1513 Valencian edition of the Vita Christi by Isabel de Villena.

    XVI. Life and Non-life: Plagues and Slaughter

    1. 1. Map of the neighborhood or grouping of Santa María or of la Mezquita, of the city of Cordoba, at the time of Leonor López de Córdoba.
    2. 2. Crucified Christ (fourteenth century). Royal Convent of Santa Clara (Astudillo, Palencia).
    3. 3. Map of the Royal convent church of San Pablo de Córdoba.
    4. 4. Tomb of Leonor López de Córdoba (1362/63-1430). Royal convent church of San Pablo de Córdoba. Photo: Meri Torras.
    5. 5. Facade of the chapel of the Trinity (also called Saint Thomas Aquinas, today of the Rosario), of the royal convent church of San Pablo de Córdoba.
    6. 6. Courtyard of the Royal Convent of Santa Clara (Astudillo, Palencia), founded by María de Padilla. Fourteenth century
    7. 7. Tomb of Martín López de Córdoba. Chapel of the Trinity, royal convent church of San Pablo de Córdoba.
    8. 8. Coat of arms of the Hinestrosa family
    9. 9. Chapel of the Trinity, today of Nuestra Señora del Rosario. Royal convent church of San Pablo de Córdoba.
    10. 10. Courtyard of the Royal Convent of Santa Clara (Astudillo, Palencia), founded by María de Padilla. Fourteenth century
    11. 11. Mudejar palace of Pedro I and María de Padilla. Astudillo (Palencia). Fourteenth century.
    12. 12. Tomb of Ruy Gutiérrez de Hinestrosa and Gutierre de Hinestrosa. Royal convent church of San Pablo de Córdoba. Photo: Meri Torras