Even in the production of her book, Pizan advanced the cause of women. The Book of the City of Ladies was produced as an illuminated manuscript, which Pizan herself oversaw. Only skilled women were employed to produce it.
Amanda Prahl
1364 – 1430 CE
Christine de Pizan (1364 to 1430), born in Venice, Italy, was an Italian writer and political and moral thinker during the late medieval period. She became a prominent writer at the French court during the reign of Charles VI, writing on literature, morals, and politics, among other topics. She was noted for her unusually outspoken defense of women. Her writings remained influential and oft-printed through the 16th century, and her work returned to prominence during the mid-20th century.
The work for which Pizan is best known is The Book of the City of Ladies (Le Livre de la cité des dames). In this work and its companion, The Treasure of the City of Ladies, Pizan created an extensive allegory in defense of women, marking her as one of the earliest Western feminist authors.
venice, italy
How far back?
2020 | Present
