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Mary Garrard

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Mary DuBose Garrard is a highly respected American art historian. She is currently an emerita professor at American University. Scholars often identify her as a founder of feminist art theory. This field uses new ways to study how gender affects art. She helps people understand the role of women in history. Her work changes how we look at famous paintings and sculptures.

Garrard built a strong foundation through many years of intense study. She earned her B.A. degree from H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College in 1958. She then went to Harvard University for her M.A. degree in 1960. Later, she completed her Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University in 1970. Her doctoral dissertation focused on the early sculpture of Jacopo Sansovino. She studied his work specifically in Florence and Rome. This deep training prepared her for a life of research.

Much of her career involves investigating the lives of female artists. She is especially famous for her studies of Artemisia Gentileschi. Gentileschi was a significant painter during the Italian Baroque period. Garrard wrote several books to explore Gentileschi's artistic identity. One important book was published by Princeton University Press in 1989. She also published a book in 2001 through the University of California Press. These works help explain how Gentileschi shaped her own reputation.

Garrard also works closely with other scholars to advance her ideas. She has co-authored and edited many books with Norma Broude. Together, they have explored the connection between feminism and art history. In 2007, they curated an exhibition called Claiming Space. This show focused on American feminist originators. It was held at the Katzen Arts Center. This collaboration shows how scholars work together to share knowledge.

Her leadership has been vital to the art community. From 1974 to 1976, she served as the second national president of the Women’s Caucus for Art. She also traveled as a Fulbright scholar to Italy from 1963 to 1964. Her scholarship began with important articles in the 1970s. One article appeared in the Art Journal in 1976. Another was published in Heresies in 1978. These writings helped start a new way of thinking about art.

Many prestigious organizations have recognized her many achievements. In 2005, the Women’s Caucus for Art gave her a Lifetime Achievement Award. The College Art Association honored her in 2000 for her pioneering scholarship. In 2002, her students at American University voted her a Faculty Legacy Award. They felt she had the greatest influence on their lives. She also received an honorary doctorate from Millsaps College in 1999. These honors reflect her lasting impact on her students and peers.

Financial support has also helped her complete her massive research projects. The J. Paul Getty Foundation provided a subvention to Princeton University Press. This money helped support the publication of her work on Gentileschi in 1987. She also received a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities in 1991. Other grants came from the American Association of University Women. These funds allow historians to spend years studying a single subject. This support is essential for creating deep and detailed books.

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