A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Siries, Violante Beatrice
SIRIES, VIOLANTE BEATRICE,
Was born at Florence, in 1710. She was a pupil of Giovanna Fratellini, who at that time lived in high esteem in Florence; by whose instruction she made an' extraordinary proficiency in water-colour and crayon painting, till she was sixteen, when she went with her father to Paris, where he was appointed goldsmith to the King of France. Here she continued for five years, and studied under an eminent Flemish artist She painted portraits of several of the nobility with such beauty and fidelity, that she was invited to take likenesses of the royal family; but she was under the necessity of declining this honour, as she was about to return with her father to Florence, where he had a very lucrative employment conferred on him by the Grand Duke, who professed great 'esteem for this artist, and ordered her portrait to be placed in the gallery of artists at Florence. To perpetuate her father's memory, she introduced his portrait with her own, giving at once a proof of her filial piety and distinguished merit She painted equally well in oil and with crayons; but most of her works are in oil, and are principally from historical subjects. She also painted fruit and flowers; and executed every subject with extraordinary taste, truth, and delicacy. She died in 1760.